Heading into the UFC 303 main event on Saturday, fans were eager to witness a captivating clash between Alex Pereira and Jiri Prochazka. The pair had previously met last year, with Pereira emerging victorious to become the UFC’s latest double-champion.
The early stages of the bout were a tactical chess match, with both feeling each other out. Pereira found success with his low kicks, while Prochazka switched to a southpaw stance. The champion then began to land some crisp shots, connecting with a thudding body kick and following up with more strikes upstairs.
As the round progressed, Prochazka managed to clinch Pereira against the fence, but the champion remained elusive, fighting off the wrists and preventing any takedowns. In the final moments of the round, Pereira landed a left hand that dropped Prochazka just as the buzzer sounded.
The second round opened with a crucial question – how compromised was Jiri Prochazka from that knockdown? The answer came swiftly, as Pereira instantly dropped the Czech challenger with a switch kick to the head. Prochazka attempted to recover, but was met with further punishment from the champion before the referee stepped in to call a halt to the contest.
In the aftermath, it was revealed that Pereira had dislocated his toe off the kick that ended the fight. Despite the victory, the champion approached Prochazka twice to check on his condition, even admitting that he was “scared” for his opponent.
The win will undoubtedly put Pereira on the short list for Fight of the Year, given his previous big victory at UFC 300 in April. As for a potential move to the heavyweight division, Pereira expressed interest, though the organization didn’t seem too keen on the idea at the time. That sentiment may very well change following his dominant performance on Saturday night.
😳 Alex Pereira approached Jiri twice to check on him… even Alex was scared for Jiri.
— Home of Fight (@Home_of_Fight) June 30, 2024
