UFC 303 LIVE: Pereira vs Prochazka fight updates and results after Dan Ige steps in on four hours’ notice
Follow live as Alex Pereira defends the light-heavyweight title in a rematch with ex-champion Jiri Prochazka
Alex Pereira’s remarkable MMA run continued on Saturday, as the Brazilian knocked out Jiri Prochazka for the second time in seven months, retaining the UFC light-heavyweight title.
Pereira, a kickboxing great, became a two-weight UFC champion within two years of joining the promotion, stopping Prochazka in November to win the vacant 205lb belt – having previously held the 185lb strap. And on Saturday (29 June), in the main event of UFC 303, Pereira knocked out Prochazka in the second round again, recording a second defence of the light-heavyweight title.
In the final second of round one, Pereira dropped Prochazka with a signature left hook. Then, in the opening moments of round two, Pereira dropped the Czech with a head kick. Pereira then finished the former champion on the canvas with ground and pound.
Pereira, 36, and Prochazka, 31, stepped up after the original main event, Conor McGregor vs Michael Chandler, collapsed this month. Re-live updates and see all results from UFC 303, below.
UFC 303 LIVE: Alex Pereira vs Jiri Prochazka 2
Pereira: “I didn’t know how I was gonna win, but I knew I was gonna come here and leave this Octagon happy.
“I think [heavyweight] is in my future. There didn’t seem to be too much interest in the organisation, but I’m here.
“These are the people paying for this, so if it’s what they want, I think it’s inevitable.”
UFC 303 LIVE: Alex Pereira vs Jiri Prochazka 2
Round two
OH! The first act of round two is a huge head kick by Pereira, dropping Prochazka again!
He pours on ground and pound, and it’s ALL OVER!! It’s waved off!
Prochazka tries to stand, and he’s wobbling all over the place.
Alex Pereira def. Jiri Prochazka via second-round KO (head kick, 0:13)
UFC 303 LIVE: Alex Pereira vs Jiri Prochazka 2
Round one
Both men stand orthodox. Prochazka switches stances early. Pereira kicks low, as he loves to do.
Prochazka presses forward. Pereira looks to deter him with a stern jab. More leg kicks from the Brazilian, and also his Czech challenger.
Decent left hook by Pereira – his signature shot – then another powerful jab. Prochazka with a jab of his own, but he’s tagged with a cross.
Body kick from Pereira. Left hook from Prochazka. There’s a tension in the T-Mobile Arena.
Prochazka rolls under a hook and gets a body lock, forcing Pereira to the fence. Prochazka tries to trap one of the champion’s legs for a trip, but Pereira gets free and moves into space.
We’re late in the round now. Lots of low kicks from Pereira. OH! And he drops Prochazka heavily on the buzzer! It’s a left hook, of course!
UFC 303 LIVE: Alex Pereira vs Jiri Prochazka 2
Round one
Both men stand orthodox. Prochazka switches stances early. Pereira kicks low, as he loves to do.
Prochazka presses forward. Pereira looks to deter him with a stern jab. More leg kicks from the Brazilian, and also his Czech challenger.
Decent left hook by Pereira – his signature shot – then another powerful jab. Prochazka with a jab of his own, but he’s tagged with a cross.
Body kick from Pereira.
UFC 303 LIVE: Alex Pereira vs Jiri Prochazka 2
Just as in the moments before their first fight, there’s an intense staredown between Pereira and Prochazka from across the ring.
HERE WE GO!
UFC 303 LIVE: Alex Pereira vs Jiri Prochazka 2
Next up: the main event! Alex Pereira defends the light-heavyweight title against former champion Jiri Prochazka.
Pereira stopped Prochazka in round two in November, claiming the vacant belt, and many felt that a rematch would occur some day.
That day is today.
Their first fight was great fun. Let’s hope for more of the same...
UFC 303 LIVE: Diego Lopes vs Dan Ige
Round three
Ige surely needs a finish here. He backs up Lopes and tries a left hook.
Lopes with a flurry of his own hooks – some to the body, some to the head. Decent jab by the Mexican.
Hardddd right hand by Ige, though! Lopes reacts by trying for a takedown, but Ige defends well. Lopes is checking the clock... Big right hook by Ige, then a left. Cross now.
Lopes looks tired. Body hook by Ige, then a southpaw cross. Lopes shoots a single-leg from distance, turns it into a double-leg, and gets ahold of Ige against the fence.
Ige wriggles free again, but he enters Lopes’s guard! He should have kept distance and thrown ground and pound! Eventually he lands some good punches from in the guard, to be fair; will that be enough to seal the round?
Yes, but only after Lopes took the first two! It’s official:
Diego Lopes def. Dan Ige via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
UFC 303 LIVE: Diego Lopes vs Dan Ige
Round two
Lopes kicks low. Ige lands a right hand up top then tries a jab. Lopes with a well-timed counter right.
Ige switches stances back and forth. Lopes catches a head kick, and Ige crashes to the mat. Lopes is very slick in taking the back!
Ige stands, and he’s fighting Lopes’s hands. He tries to shake off Lopes, but he can’t; the pair fall to the mat, and Lopes works on a rear naked choke...
Ige fires off punches to deter the Mexican, who still has his back.
UFC 303 LIVE: Diego Lopes vs Dan Ige
Round one
This one should be fun. Both fighters stand orthodox. Lopes kicks low and outside. Good knee in the clinch by the Mexican.
A flurry of punches from Lopes now, and Ige covers up, looking to pick his counters. The Hawaiian was already due to fight soon, by the way – on 20 July, so he’s in good shape despite this last-minute fight.
Lopes leaps into range with a knee, and although it doesn’t land, it gets him close enough for a right hand.
A scrappy boxing exchange ensues. Ige lands a decent uppercut in there. Lopes kicks low, and Ige goes for a double-leg...
Lopes defends with a D’Arce choke! But Ige stays calm and escapes late in the round!
UFC 303 LIVE: Diego Lopes vs Dan Ige
Next up, the last-minute co-main event!
A reminder that Brian Ortega withdrew tonight due to illness, and Dan Ige travelled to the arena, weighed in, and will step in to face Diego Lopes!! Remarkable.
It’ll be a 165lb catchweight bout. Originally, Ortega vs Lopes – which was a late-notice fight itself – was set to be at 145lb. Yesterday it was moved to 155lb due to Ortega’s poor weigh-cut.
And then, tonight’s drama!
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