In a dazzling display of skill and power, Alex Pereira secured his place in UFC history by becoming the fastest two-division champion ever. The Brazilian fighter stopped Jiří Procházka via TKO at 4:08 of the second round in the main event of UFC 295 held at the iconic Madison Square Garden on Saturday night. With this victory, Pereira added the vacant UFC light heavyweight championship to his collection, previously holding the middleweight title earlier this year.
Pereira’s journey to two championships in just seven UFC fights is a feat that has left the MMA community in awe. UFC CEO Dana White, in the post-fight news conference, acknowledged the incredible accomplishment, stating, “I don’t know about an all-time great [yet]. But it’s incredibly impressive what he’s done in a short amount of time.”
The fight’s climax occurred when Pereira dropped Jiří Procházka with a left hook, leaving the Czech Republic native visibly hurt. Seizing the opportunity, Pereira swiftly transitioned into the mount, unleashing a barrage of punches and elbows. Referee Marc Goddard intervened as Procházka valiantly tried to fight back, sparking some controversy among fans. However, Pereira defended the stoppage, stating, “I looked for the finish. I don’t think it was a bad stoppage.”
Procházka, gracious in defeat, concurred, saying, “I think it was right. I was out. But you know, I will never stop.”
The UFC light heavyweight division has faced instability since Jon Jones relinquished the title, with Procházka’s injury further complicating the situation. Pereira’s triumph brings hope for stability to the division.
Looking ahead, Pereira issued a call-out to Israel Adesanya, expressing interest in a rematch at light heavyweight. Pereira and Adesanya have a storied history, having split their two UFC meetings, with Pereira holding two victories over Adesanya in kickboxing. However, the immediate future may see Pereira defending his title against Jamahal Hill, the next contender once he recovers from an Achilles tendon injury.
Pereira’s victory was set in motion in the first round when he dropped Procházka with a punishing leg kick. Despite Procházka’s late takedown and elbow strikes, Pereira maintained control. His strategic leg kicks continued into the second round, setting the stage for the eventual TKO finish.
White commended Pereira’s performance, noting his kicking and punching power, saying, “He moves like a middleweight. He’s pretty nasty.”
Pereira, aged 36, is no stranger to making history at Madison Square Garden. As the only fighter to headline back-to-back UFC cards at the venue, he previously knocked out Adesanya to claim the middleweight title in November 2022. Now, with a dominant performance at UFC 295, Pereira emphatically declared, “It’s my house here now. How do I get the key?”
Procházka, whose 13-fight win streak came to an end, remains a formidable contender in the light heavyweight division. The former light heavyweight champion of Japan’s Rizin promotion, aged 31, undoubtedly has more to offer in the future despite this setback.
In the aftermath of UFC 295, the MMA world is left anticipating the next move of the newly crowned two-division champion, Alex Pereira, as he etches his name in the annals of UFC history.
