Imperious Pereira knocks out Prochazka to retain belt

Alex Pereira continued his imperious reign as champion as he knocked out Jiri Prochazka to retain his light-heavyweight title at UFC 303 in Las Vegas.

Brazil's Pereira, 36, floored Czech fighter Prochazka, 31, with a left high-kick in the second round, stunning the sold-out crowd inside the T-Mobile Arena.

It was Pereira's second win over Prochazka after stopping him in round two of their fight in November to win the light-heavyweight title.

The former middleweight champion has won two titles and made two defences in just nine fights since his UFC debut in November 2021 in one of the most remarkable runs in the promotion's history.

"I've been saying all week I was going to be victorious. I didn’t say how I was going to win, but I knew I was going to leave the octagon happy," said Pereira.

Earlier in the night, Ireland's Ian Machado Garry beat Britain's Michael 'Venom' Page by unanimous decision to extend the unbeaten start to his career to 15.

Machado Garry, 26, got the better of the grappling exchanges with 37-year-old Page, who suffered his first UFC defeat following a winning debut in March.

Pereira and Prochazka stepped in at short notice to fight after Conor McGregor pulled out of his headlining bout with Michael Chandler earlier this month with a broken toe.

The event marked the second time in three months that Pereira had topped a big event after headlining the landmark UFC 300 in March.

Pereira knocked out Jamahal Hill that night to retain his title, setting up the rematch with Prochazka, who had stopped Aleksandar Rakic on the same evening.

In McGregor's absence, the UFC broadcast team described Pereira as the "biggest star in mixed martial arts today" and the Brazilian's performance lived up to the billing.

Before the fighter introductions, the stoic, motionless pair locked eyes for a number of minutes, mirroring the intense staredown before their encounter in November.

Pereira opened the fight with leg kicks before landing a left hook and jab on Prochazka, whose best moment of the fight came as he initiated a clinch.

The defining moment of the opening five minutes came right at the end of the round as Pereira's thunderous left hook dropped Prochazka, with the bell preventing any follow-up.

The Czech's corner team could be seen putting ice on his head to try to sharpen his senses, but it was in vain as just 13 seconds into the second round Pereira delivered his fight-ending kick.

After the bout, he hinted at a move to heavyweight and an attempt to become the first three-division champion in UFC history.

"I think that’s in my future. There doesn’t seem to be too much interest from the organisation but I’m here, I think it’s in my future," said Pereira.

"I think the fans have a lot of say in this. In the end these are the people who pay for this. If this is what they want, it’s going to be inevitable."

Machado Garry said he felt responsible for putting on a show for the Irish fans in McGregor's absence, adding that he had "no problem bearing that burden".

He has earned comparisons to former double champion McGregor over the years, with his unbeaten rise to seven in the UFC welterweight rankings providing Irish fans with hope he can be the country's first champion in six years.

In Page, however, Machado Garry was facing one of the most dangerous strikers on the roster, with the Briton's in-and-out kickboxing style helping to provide a number of highlight moments during his time in Bellator.

Page made a winning start against Kevin Holland on his UFC debut in March, but faced a more willing grappler in Machado Garry.

The Irishman dominated early, catching a kick and taking the fight to the ground, before searching for a rear-naked choke that was well defended by Page until the end of the round.

Page had his best moments in the second round, landing a left-right combination that brought a wry smile from Machado Garry plus an overhand right.

But Machado Garry would utilise his grappling once again in the final five minutes, and despite doing little damage and failing to get a submission, his time in control was enough to secure the win.

"I want everyone to know I'm coming for that title. I'm 15-0, undefeated, unstoppable," said Machado Garry.

"I don't care who's next, where it is, I'm going to be a world champion, the future is inevitable."