(Reuters) – Alex Pereira defended his UFC light heavyweight belt with a stunning knockout win over Jiri Prochazka in Las Vegas on Saturday, potentially paving the way for the Brazilian to claim the heavyweight crown and a third UFC title.
Pereira landed a spectacular head kick early in the second round, followed by a flurry of punches to knock out Prochazka, who remained unsteady on his feet even after referee Herb Dean stopped the bout.
“I've been saying all week that I'm coming here and I'm going to win. I don't know what the next step is. I'm taking these opportunities. Everything that comes my way is good, so that's what I'm doing,” Pereira said.
The decorated kickboxer has seen impressive growth since joining UFC in September 2021, winning both the middleweight and light heavyweight titles, and his name has frequently been mentioned as a potential challenger at heavyweight.
“I think that's my future,” Pereira said. “I said that the last time I was here, and I said it a bunch of times, and the organization didn't seem to be very interested, but I'm here, I'm available, and I think that's my future.”
“I think the fans have a lot of say in this. If this is what the fans want, then I think this is inevitable.”
UFC president Dana White said he was aware of the growing calls to move Pereira into a heavyweight bout.
“I know that's what guys want to see, we'll see how this all plays out,” White told reporters, mindful of the turmoil at the top of the league.
Jon Jones, considered by many to be the greatest UFC fighter of all time, currently holds the heavyweight belt but hasn't fought since March 2023.
The bout between Jones and former champion Stipe Miocic was called off due to Jones' injury, and Britain's Tom Aspinall will now win the interim heavyweight title by defeating Sergey Pavlovic in November 2023.
(Reporting by Philip O'Connor and Hugh Lawson Editing)
