NEW YORK — In just two years, Alex Pereira has been a part of the UFC. He has now won titles in two weight divisions.
In the main event of UFC 295 at Madison Square Garden on Saturday night, Pereira submitted Jiri Prochazka by TKO at 4:08 of the second round. Pereira became the eighth two-division champion in UFC history with the victory, taking home the vacant light heavyweight title. Earlier in the year, he held the title of UFC middleweight champion.
In just seven UFC fights, Pereira became the fastest person in UFC history to win two crowns. No other fighter has triumphed in the light heavyweight and middleweight divisions.
UFC CEO Dana White remarked, “It’s incredible,” at the press conference following the fight. As of right now, I’m not aware of an all-time great. But what he’s accomplished in a short period of time is really outstanding.”
Pereira, with his back to the cage, used a left hook to bring Prochazka down. With Prochazka obviously wounded, Pereira launched himself straight into mount, delivering elbows and punches along the way. Although Prochazka appeared to be trying to fight back, the contest was stopped by referee Marc Goddard. The pause was booed by several fans.
After the initial left hook, Pereira stated in his post-fight interview, “I’m not surprised.” “As he collapsed into my legs, I searched for the finish. It wasn’t a poor stoppage, in my opinion.”
Prochazka declared that he supported the halt.
“I believe it was appropriate,” he stated. “I had left. But I promise I won’t give up.”
Since heavyweight division legend Jon Jones willingly gave up the title to move to light heavyweight, the UFC light heavyweight title has seen some difficult times. Maybe Pereira can provide stability. After suffering a serious shoulder injury in late 2022, Prochazka vacated the belt. Then, in January, Jamahal Hill defeated Glover Teixeira to win it. However, Hill was forced to give up the title in July after rupturing an Achilles tendon.
Prior to this past Saturday, Pereira was rated second in the division by ESPN.
Israel Adesanya was then yelled at by Pereira to advance to light heavyweight and confront him. In their two UFC encounters, Pereira and Adesanya have split, and Pereira has defeated Adesanya twice in kickboxing. When Hill heals, it’s more probable that Pereira will go after Hill.
After losing to Sean Strickland for the middleweight title at UFC 293 in Australia, Adesanya declared last month that he would “not fight for a long time.”
Regarding Adesanya, Pereira remarked, “I think it’s a fight everyone would like to see, and he doesn’t seem motivated.”
In the opening round, Pereira used a leg kick to finish Prochazka. Late in the first, Prochazka returned with a takedown and some elbow damage. In the second round, Pereira kept working on the leg kicks, which helped him win.
“He understood. “He continued to kick that leg,” stated White. “And as the fight progressed, that leg was going to become problematic. The ability to kick. The force of blows. He has middleweight movement. He is quite repulsive.”
The only fighter to headline consecutive UFC shows at Madison Square Garden is Pereira (9-2), who trains alongside Teixeira. The Connecticut-based fighter, who is of Brazilian descent and trains there, defeated Adesanya via knockout to capture the UFC middleweight championship at MSG in November 2022.
Pereira, 36, was honored into the Glory Kickboxing Hall of Fame recently and was a two-time champion in the promotion. At MSG, he is already 3-0.
Pereira declared, “This is my home now,” referring to the Garden. “How do I get the key?”
Prochazka (29-4-1) has won 13 of his previous bouts, all by unanimous decision, including his first three in the UFC. In June 2022, the native of the Czech Republic defeated Teixeira to claim the UFC light heavyweight championship. The 31-year-old Prochazka was the Rizin promotion’s light heavyweight champion in the past.