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UFC 303: Alex Pereira defeats Jiri Prochazka with devastating head kick

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Alex Pereira UFC MaximumSports Jiri Prochazka

Light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira cements his place as the division’s king as he defeats Jiri Prochazka with a brutal head kick at UFC 303.

The main event bout between Pereira and Prochazka was booked after Conor McGregor vs. Michael Chandler was canceled. Pereira had already competed in the main event at UFC 300 in April, where he knocked out Jamahal Hill, but still chose to defend his title at UFC 303.

Pereira had previously finished Prochazka via TKO in their first bout in November 2013 and similar scenes would play out this time. The fight started slowly but the tension was palpable as both fighters possess the power to knock each other out with just one attack.

Pereira pressed forward methodically, landing several solid leg kicks, and appeared to be in control of the fight from the start. Prochazka struggled to find his rhythm and was unsuccessful in attempting to take Pereira down from a clinch position. Instead, Pereira racked up more leg kicks and even managed to send Prochazka to the mat in the closing seconds of the first round.

Just seconds into the second round, Pereira landed a solid head kick that immediately sent Prochazka to the mat. Referee Herb Dean allowed the fight to continue, but the follow-up shots from Pereira shook Prochazka badly, and it didn’t take long for referee Dean to intervene. Prochazka was clearly injured and could barely stand without help.


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Pereira extends his victory streak to four straight after making his light heavyweight debut against Jan Blachowicz in July 2023. He has now defeated former UFC champions Blachowicz, Hill and Prochazka twice. In his victory speech, Pereira told Joe Rogan that he sees himself moving up to heavyweight.

“I think that’s in my future,” Pereira told Joe Rogan through an interpreter. “I said it last time I was here. … I’m here, I’m available, and I do think that’s in my future.”


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In the co-main event, Diego Lopes was set to face former title contender Brian Ortega in a featherweight bout. Unfortunately, Ortega missed weight, and the fight was changed to a lightweight bout. With just hours until the start, Ortega had to pull out due to sickness and was replaced by Dan Ige on only a couple of hours’ notice. The bout was finally contested as a catchweight (165 lb) bout.

Lopes started strong, but Ige did a good job staying composed and picking his shots. Lopes got close with a submission attempt in the first round but lost steam as the bout progressed. Ige finished the fight strong, raining down shots from the top position as the third and final round came to an end. Despite Ige’s strong finish, Lopes won the bout via unanimous decision and extended his winning streak to four straight.

A total of six Fight of the Night bonuses were handed out after the event:

  • Fight of the Night: Andre Fili vs Cub Swanson
  • Performance of the Night: Alex Pereira, Macy Chiasson, Joe Pyfer, and Payton Talbott

UFC 303: Pereira vs Prochazka 2 – Highlights

UFC 303: Pereira vs Prochazka 2 – Results

Main card

  • Light Heavyweight Title Fight: Alex Pereira defeats Jiří Procházka via knockout (head kick and punches) – Round 2, 0:13
  • Catchweight (165 lbs): Diego Lopes defeats Dan Ige via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
  • Light-Heavyweight: Roman Dolidze defeats Anthony Smith via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
  • Women’s Bantamweight: Macy Chiasson defeats Mayra Bueno Silva via TKO (doctor stoppage) – Round 2, 1:58
  • Welterweight: Ian Machado Garry defeats Michael Page via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)

Undercard

  • Middleweight: Joe Pyfer defeats Marc-André Barriault via KO (punches) – Round 1, 1:25
  • Featherweight: Andre Fili defeats Cub Swanson via split decision (28-29, 29-28, 29-28)
  • Catchweight (147.5 lb): Jean Silva defeats Charles Jourdain via KO (punches) – Round 2, 1:22
  • Bantamweight: Payton Talbott defeats Yanis Ghemmouri via KO (punches) – Round 1, 0:19

Early prelims

  • Strawweight (Women): Gillian Robertson defeats Michelle Waterson-Gomez via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-26)
  • Heavyweight: Martin Buday defeats Andrei Arlovski by unanimous decision (29-28, 28-29, 30-27)
  • Flyweight: Rei Tsuruya defeats Carlos Hernandez by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
  • Bantamweight: Vinicius Oliveira defeats Ricky Simón by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)

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