UFC: Pereira knocks out Prochazka to retain title

By means of Victor Kanayo

Alex Pereira knocked out Jiri Prochazka to retain his light heavyweight title at UFC 303 in Las Vegas.

The victory ensured he continued his imperious reign as champion.

36-year-old Brazilian Pereira floored 31-year-old Czech fighter Prochazka in the second round with a high left kick, stunning the sold-out crowd at the T-Mobile Arena.

It was Pereira’s second win over Prochazka after stopping him in the second round of their last fight.

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

Earlier, Irishman Ian Machado Garry defeated Britain’s Michael ‘Venom’ Page via unanimous decision. In doing so, he extended his undefeated start in his career to 15.

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