Pereira stops Prochazka to retain light heavyweight title

Alex Pereira made a second successful defence of his light heavyweight championship after he stopped Jiri Prochazka in the second round of their main event match at UFC 303, held at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas on the morning of Sunday 30 June 2024.

Pereira agreed to step in at late notice for an event which was originally meant to see the return of Conor McGregor. While the latter’s time as a major UFC star has surely passed, ‘Poatan’ is the real deal and put in a dominant display against former champion Prochazka.

The Brazilian, after a strong first round, ended the fight early in the second, landing a devastating head kick before following it up with a flurry of punches that forced referee Herb Dean to jump in and end the match.

Prochazka attempted to return to his feet after the stoppage but could not stand under his own power.

"It was great. I've been saying all week that I'd come out here and be victorious. I didn't know how I was going to win but I knew I would leave the Octagon happy,” said Pereira, who then claimed that another division bump could be on the cards.

"I think [moving to heavyweight is] in my future. I said that the last time I was here. There didn't seem to be too much interest from the organisation but I'm here.”

The rest of the main card saw Diego Lopes outpoint Dan Ige in their catchweight (165 lbs) co-main event; Roman Dolidze defeated Anthony Smith via unanimous decision in their light heavyweight bout; Macy Chiasson stopped Mayra Bueno Silva thanks to a second-round doctor’s stoppage; and Ian Machado Garry outpointed Michael Page in a welterweight opener.

The UFC continues in two weeks with a Fight Night at the Ball Arena in Denver, Colorado, headlined by a women’s flyweight fight between Tracy Cortez and Rose Namajunas.

UFC 303 – Main card results

- Light heavyweight championship: Alex Pereira def. Jiri Prochazka via second-round TKO (head kick, punches)

- Catchweight (165 lbs): Diego Lopes def. Dan Ige via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)

- Light heavyweight: Roman Dolidze def. Anthony Smith via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)

- Women’s bantamweight: Macy Chiasson def. Mayra Bueno Silva via second-round TKO (doctor's stoppage)

- Welterweight: Ian Machado Garry def. Michael Page via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)