Sarah Stier/Getty Photographs
Alex Pereira claimed one other UFC title with a second-round TKO win over Jiří Procházka to grow to be the brand new UFC gentle heavyweight champion in the principle occasion of UFC 295 from Madison Sq. Backyard in New York Metropolis.
Pereira took the early lead within the combat with a barrage of leg kicks early within the first spherical that battered Procházka lead leg. It was a spherical that had a bit little bit of every part.
Procházka answered with some grappling however practically bought caught with a standing guillotine.
ESPN MMA @espnmma
Procházka was capable of have restricted success with that strategy however Pereira in the end labored his means again to the toes by the top of the spherical.
Fortuitously for the brand new champion, the second spherical began on the toes the place it grew to become clear he had the benefit. With Procházka coming in to land a proper hook Pereira uncorked a superbly timed left hand that put Procházka on the bottom and drew the stoppage.
The choice to finish the combat will not go with out some criticism.
Ariel Helwani @arielhelwani
At first look, that felt like an early stoppage.
Upon watching the replay, it seems like an early stoppage.
Prochazka was positively damage. Simply feels prefer it might have breathed a bit extra.
Nevertheless, Prochazka poured water on that controversy fairly shortly in his post-fight interview, maintaining it elegant within the wake of a tricky loss.
Nolan King @mma_kings
Jiri Prochazka on the stoppage: “Ultimately, I believe it was proper. I used to be out.” #UFC295
Pereira is now the champion of a division that he has solely fought in twice. The previous middleweight champion beat Jan Blachowicz by cut up resolution in his 205-pound debut at UFC 191.
Just some months later and he is the champion.
It is simply the newest wild growth in a division that has been characterised by chaos since Jon Jones vacated the title in 2020.
The UFC has topped 4 champions since then and Blachowicz is the one one to defend the belt. The one recognized for his Polish energy beat Dominick Reyes for the belt and defended it in opposition to Israel Adesanya.
Then Procházka claimed the belt from Blachowicz and the insanity began. Procházka vacated the sunshine heavyweight championship after he gained it as a result of he suffered a severe shoulder harm whereas getting ready for a rematch with Glover Teixeira.
With Procházka out of fee, the UFC had a title combat between Magomed Ankalaev and Jan Blachowicz, however they fought to a draw and no champion was topped. Jamahal Hill then beat Glover Teixeira to say the crown, however he was compelled to drop the belt due to a ruptured Achilles tendon.
Now it is Pereira’s flip to try to grow to be the face of the division. In fact, there are already challengers who’re making their case to combat for the belt and that features Hill, who’s making an attempt to return again from his personal severe harm.
“My time is coming again. I will be again. It is solely a bump within the highway. Each time I come again, it is proper again like I by no means left,” Hill told reporters this week.
With Hill vacating the belt in July it could be a bit aggressive for him to be Pereira’s title protection nevertheless it could be essentially the most anticipated matchup obtainable proper now.
