LAS VEGAS — The legend of Poatan continues to develop.
Alex Pereira (11-2 MMA, 8-1 UFC) scored a vicious second-round knockout of JirĂ Prochazka (30-5-1 MMA, 4-2 UFC) with a devastating head kick and brutal follow-up strikes to retain his mild heavyweight championship in the principle occasion of UFC 303 at T-Cellular Enviornment.
The rematch between the 2, who met final November with Pereira profitable by second-round TKO, occurred loads ahead of anticipated as each have been referred to as to motion on two weeks’ discover after Conor McGregor was compelled out of his principal occasion showdown with Michael Chandler because of a damaged toe.
Each fighters had competed at UFC 300 and pulled off spectacular knockout victories of their respective fights, with Prochazka taking out Alexander Rakic and Pereira impressively dispatching Jamahal Hill in protection of his title. Each left with little injury, however a pair of damaged toes was the one factor in the way in which of Pereira accepting the combat.
Because it seems, these damaged toes would join on the pinnacle of Prochazka within the rematch and put an finish to the rivalry.
“I did not understand how I used to be going to win, however I knew I used to be going to depart this Octagon pleased,” Pereira stated by way of an interpreter.
The combat was a strikers’ paradise within the opening spherical, with Pereira touchdown leg kicks and Prochazka discovering success with the left hook and utilizing his awkward motion to create openings. However Prochazka performed too near the solar and bumped into Pereira’s trademark left hook, which despatched him crashing to the canvas on the finish of the spherical. Though he tried to indicate he was unhurt, Prochazka’s legs stated in any other case as he stumbled to his nook.
Pereira smelled the blood within the water and wasted little time ending the job. He opened the second spherical by uncorking a violent head kick that despatched the Czech Republic fighter to the canvas once more. However this time there can be no bell to avoid wasting him as Pereira’s follow-up strikes completed the job simply 13 seconds into the spherical.
What Pereira has been capable of accomplish in two quick years s nothing in need of excellent. He captured the UFC middleweight championship in simply over a yr after his promotional debut by knocking out Israel Adesanya and added the sunshine heavyweight title a yr after that when he stopped Prochazka. With one other profitable protection below his belt, what may presumably subsequent for Poatan?
An unprecedented championship in a 3rd weight class at heavyweight?
“I feel that is in my future,” Pereira stated. “I say it loads. I am right here, I am obtainable and I feel that is in my future.”
A combat with present heavyweight champion Jon Jones may be the largest combat that may be made within the UFC in the intervening time and it is clear that Pereira needs to proceed to do the unthinkable throughout his outstanding run. However with Jones slated to face Stipe Miocic later this yr, a combat with Pereira might have to attend.
However, for now, the world is within the palm of his hand.