Pereira crushes Prochazka at UFC 303 as remarkable run continues

LAS VEGAS (Agencies): Alex Pereira’s remarkable MMA run continued on Saturday, as the Brazilian knocked out Jiri Prochazka for the second time in seven months, retaining the UFC light-heavyweight title. Pereira, a kickboxing great, became a two-weight UFC champion within two years of joining the promotion, stopping Prochazka in November to win the vacant 205lb belt – having previously held the 185lb strap. And on Saturday (29 June), in the main event of UFC 303, Pereira knocked out Prochazka in the second round again, recording a second defence of the light-heavyweight title. In the final second of round one, Pereira dropped Prochazka with a signature left hook. Then, in the opening moments of round two, Pereira dropped the Czech with a head kick. Pereira then finished the former champion on the canvas with ground and pound. The result marked “Poatan”’s second successful title defence, after he knocked out another former champion in Jamahal Hill in April. Pereira, 36, and Prochazka, 31, stepped up after the original main event, Conor McGregor vs Michael Chandler, collapsed this month. McGregor, who was due to return after three years away, suffered a broken toe two weeks before UFC 303, ruling him out of his planned bout with Chandler in Las Vegas. And UFC 303 underwent several other changes, including on the night itself. Brian Ortega withdrew from his co-main event with Diego Lopes due to illness, leading Dan Ige to travel to the T-Mobile Arena, weigh in, and face Lopes on four hours’ notice. Lopes beat Ige via decision as the featherweights met in a 165lb catchweight contest. Elsewhere on the card, controversial Irish star Ian Machado Garry outpointed London’s Michael “Venom” Page in a welterweight fight.