CHAMA! PEREIRA SMOKES PROCHAZKA WITH KILLER KICK

Forget the bait-and-switch drama of Conor McGregor’s super disappointing withdrawal.

UFC 303 has pivoted on a dime, delivering a fantastic Light Heavyweight rematch that was bound to happen regardless of the unfortunate circumstances. Indeed, tonight (Sat., June 29, 2024) inside the electric T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, Alex Pereira vs. Jiri Prochazka collide in a last-minute rematch with championship gold hanging in the balance.

This is about as good as it gets, all things considered.

Indeed, forget the whispers of mystic premonitions and the lingering murmur of a questionable stoppage in their first encounter at UFC 295 back in Nov. 2023 (watch highlights). Pereira and Prochazka represent the absolute pinnacle of violence and entertainment in the 205-pound division. Two inspired warriors (or samurais?) who hunt for finishes with primal hunger.

What more could we ask for (welp)?

Live updates will begin to flow below the moment the two fighters make their way to the Octagon ...

Prochazka, the challenger, was the first to make the walk:

Then it was time for “Poatan” to work his emotionless magic:

Round one:

Both fighters were stone-faced throughout the entire build to the start of the fight, staring holes straight through each other ... for about four solid minutes. Low kick from Alex got the action started with Jiri in a Southpaw stance, but went back to conventional almost immediately. Jiri pressed with a doubled-up jab but Alex, as usual, was on point with a crisp counter before going back to work on the legs. Big left hook from Alex, which Jiri was able to eat, but looked a little shaky. Jiri came back for more, landed a shot or two, but Alex countered with another hard, accurate shot. Big kick to the body from Alex as Jiri feinted incessantly, but “Poatan” didn’t take the bait. Both fighters traded nice left hooks as Jiri finally was able to close the distance and do some work along the cage with two minutes on the clock. Jiri tried a few trips, while Alex boxed his ears, as the battle along the cage continued. Alex threw him to the side with about 40 seconds on the clock then landed two hard leg kicks at the bell ... and a knockdown!!!

Round two:

Alex came out for the second stanza, looking to finish what he had just started. And just like that, Alex uncorked an insane head kick that dropped Jiri immediately. He paused, thinking Herb Dean would step in and stop it, but he didn’t. So, Alex followed up with a brutal barrage of ground-and-pound that had Jiri all turtled up and eventually out on his feet. Indeed, Jiri was so jacked that he tried wrestling Dean as they attempted to get him back in his stool.

My goodness. Even crazier, Alex appeared to injure or break his foot/toe on Prochazka’s noggin ... unreal.

Final result: Pereira def. Prochazka via knockout (head kick) in round two

To check out the latest and greatest UFC 303: “Pereira vs. Prochazka 2” news and notes be sure to hit up our comprehensive event archive right here.

2024-06-30T04:24:24Z dg43tfdfdgfd