Sign In
Florida keys times
  • Home
  • Business & Economy
  • Entertainment & Lifestyle
  • News
  • Opinion
  • Sports
Reading: Pereira retains light heavyweight title with 2nd-round TKO of Prochazka at UFC 303
Share
Florida keys timesFlorida keys times
Font ResizerAa
Search
  • Home
    • Home 1
    • Home 2
    • Home 3
    • Home 4
    • Home 5
  • Categories
  • Bookmarks
  • More Foxiz
    • Sitemap
Have an existing account? Sign In
Follow US
© 2022 Foxiz News Network. Ruby Design Company. All Rights Reserved.
Florida keys times > Blog > Sports > Pereira retains light heavyweight title with 2nd-round TKO of Prochazka at UFC 303
Sports

Pereira retains light heavyweight title with 2nd-round TKO of Prochazka at UFC 303

Revival Renaissance Team
Last updated: 2024/06/30 at 6:06 AM
Revival Renaissance Team
Share
SHARE


LAS VEGAS (AP) — Alex Pereira first became a champion kickboxer and then moved to the UFC and won title belts in the middleweight and light heavyweight divisions.

And, after Saturday night’s convincing victory over top-ranked challenger Jiri Prochazka in UFC 303, he might not be done.

Pereira could move up to heavyweight and do what no UFC fighter has ever accomplished — win championships in three weight classes.

He put himself in position after delivering a vicious left kick to Prochazka’s head and then pounded him, ending the fight 13 seconds into the second round to retain his light heavyweight championship.

“I think that’s in my future,” Pereira, who is from Brazil, said through an interpreter. “I said that the last time I was here. I’m here, I’m available and I think that’s in my best interest.”

UFC President Dana White wasn’t ready to commit, noting his respect for heavyweight champion Jon Jones.

“We’ll see how this whole thing plays out,” White said.

Pereira (11-2) now has beaten Prochazka (30-5-1) twice since November to end any doubts about who reigns in that weight class.

Most of the drama at UFC 303 occurred outside the octagon in the weekend and even the hours leading up to the event.

“Hell of a month,” White said. “It’s been challenging, but fun.”

Officials had to act quickly after a late change was needed in the co-main event when an illness forced Brian Ortega to drop out. Dan Ige already was in Las Vegas training for another fight and wound up taking on Diego Lopes in the lightweight fight.

All three judges scored the fight 29-28 in favor Lopes (25-6) of Brazil. Ige (18-8), who is from Honolulu but lives in Las Vegas, was cheered loudly for showing up with little notice.

The UFC also scrambled to pair Pereira and Prochazka after scheduled headliner Conor McGregor’s broken toe forced him to withdraw. They were given about two weeks to prepare after Pereira had his Australia vacation disrupted and Prochazka was interrupted while at a three-day meditation retreat.

A packed crowd of 18,881 that included New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers, sitting next to former Green Bay Packers teammate Marcedes Lewis, watched. Lewis now plays tight end for the Chicago Bears.

At $15.9 million, it was the fourth-highest gate in UFC history. White had hoped to break the record, but not having the star power of McGregor likely kept that from happening. The highest gate is $17.7 million for UFC 205 in November 2016 at New York’s Madison Square Garden.

Pereira and Prochazka engaged in a lengthy staredown that carried through Bruce Buffer’s fighter introductions and referee Herb Dean’s instructions.

Both fighters spent the opening round feeling each other out, but there was a strong hint of what was to come as it ended. Pereira knocked down Prochazka with a left hand, but it occurred after the bell.

Then Pereira finished the job.

“I’ve been saying all week that I was going to come out and be victorious,” said Pereira, who turns 37 on July 7. “I didn’t know how I was going to win.”

Prochazka, a 31-year-old from Czechia, was not made available to the media. If Pereira does move up to heavyweight, that could help Prochazka in his effort to reclaim the belt he held briefly two years ago.

Second-ranked challenger Magomed Ankalaev and No. 3 Jamahal Hill also could have a big say in who rules the division. Hill originally was scheduled to fight in the co-main event, but a knee injury while training forced him out.

Prochazka’s bout with Pereira was a rematch from Nov. 11 at Madison Square Garden. Pereira won the championship that night with a technical knockout at 4:08 of the second round to claim the vacated light heavyweight champion.

Then Pereira cemented his hold on the belt by beating previous title holder Hill with a first-round stoppage in UFC 300 on April 13 in Las Vegas. On the same card, Prochazka recorded a second-round TKO of Aleksandar Rakic to put himself in position for the earlier-than-expected rematch.

Mayra Bueno Silva (10-4-1) suffered a gash so big in her bantamweight fight that the ring doctor called the fight at 1:58 of the second round in favor of Macy Chiasson (11-3). Blood poured down Silva’s face, who asked to continue.

___

AP sports: https://apnews.com/sports





Source link

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Subscribe to our newsletter to get our newest articles instantly!

Revival Renaissance Team June 30, 2024 June 30, 2024
Share This Article
Twitter Email Copy Link Print
Previous Article Americans and British share roots and a ‘special relationship.’ They also distrust their own leaders
Next Article Nikki Haley says GOP should prepare for ‘younger,’ more ‘vibrant’ Biden replacement
Leave a comment

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Editor's Pick

Daniel Penny is not guilty, Biden’s three biggest lies, and more from Fox News Opinion

Daniel Penny is not guilty, Biden’s three biggest lies, and more from Fox News Opinion

NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles! Welcome to the Fox News Opinion Newsletter.HANNITY – Fox News host says…

By Revival Renaissance Team 2 Min Read
Trump admin urged to launch probe into Manhattan DA’s office after Daniel Penny trial
Trump admin urged to launch probe into Manhattan DA’s office after Daniel Penny trial

New York City Councilwoman Vickie Paladino is urging the incoming Trump administration…

5 Min Read
Nobel laureates criticize RFK Jr. HHS nomination over ‘lack of credentials,’ vaccine stance
Nobel laureates criticize RFK Jr. HHS nomination over ‘lack of credentials,’ vaccine stance

Seventy-seven Nobel Prize winners have come out against the nomination of environmental…

5 Min Read

Oponion

Daniel Penny is not guilty, Biden’s three biggest lies, and more from Fox News Opinion

Daniel Penny is not guilty, Biden’s three biggest lies, and more from Fox News Opinion

NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles! Welcome to…

December 10, 2024

Trump admin urged to launch probe into Manhattan DA’s office after Daniel Penny trial

New York City Councilwoman Vickie Paladino…

December 10, 2024

Nobel laureates criticize RFK Jr. HHS nomination over ‘lack of credentials,’ vaccine stance

Seventy-seven Nobel Prize winners have come…

December 10, 2024

Alleged assassin of health care CEO officially charged and more top headlines

Good morning and welcome to Fox…

December 10, 2024

LIZ PEEK: Trump just outfoxed Biden and his corrupt family. Again

Join Fox News for access to…

December 10, 2024

You Might Also Like

‘Against our daughters’: Cruz challenger hit with blistering 7-figure ad over transgender sports bill vote
Sports

‘Against our daughters’: Cruz challenger hit with blistering 7-figure ad over transgender sports bill vote

FIRST ON FOX: A conservative super PAC is blanketing the airwaves with a new advertisement slamming Texas Democratic Senate candidate…

5 Min Read
NFL fines Saints’ Khristian Boyd over brutal hit on Eagles’ DeVonta Smith: report
Sports

NFL fines Saints’ Khristian Boyd over brutal hit on Eagles’ DeVonta Smith: report

New Orleans Saints defensive tackle Khristian Boyd was reportedly fined more than $4,500 on Wednesday for his hit on Philadelphia…

4 Min Read
Michael Jordan and Steph Curry’s influence being used in a campaign to change an underdog program’s history
Sports

Michael Jordan and Steph Curry’s influence being used in a campaign to change an underdog program’s history

Join Fox News for access to this content Plus special access to select articles and other premium content with your…

10 Min Read
Mariners condemn Macklemore after ‘F— America’ remark: ‘Sports and music should connect, not divide us’
Sports

Mariners condemn Macklemore after ‘F— America’ remark: ‘Sports and music should connect, not divide us’

Join Fox News for access to this content Plus special access to select articles and other premium content with your…

5 Min Read
Florida keys times

About Us

Welcome to floridakeystimes, your trusted source for breaking news and in-depth coverage. We pride ourselves on delivering accurate and up-to-date information to keep you informed. Explore our platform and stay connected to the world with us

More links

  • Home
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Terms & Conditions
  • Privacy Policy

Categories

  • News
  • Sports
  • Opinion
  • Business & Economy
  • Entertainment & Lifestyle

Subscribe

Subscribe Newsletter

Subscribe to our newsletter to get our newest articles instantly!

Floridakeystimes © 2024 . All Rights Reserved.
Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Lost your password?