ALEX PEREIRA brutally knocked Jamahal Hill to retain his light-heavyweight title – seconds after brushing off a low blow.
The fan favourite made his first defence of the 205lbs strap he claimed last November early on Sunday morning in the main event of UFC 300 in Las Vegas.
ReutersAlex Pereira locked horns with Jamahal Hill in the main event of UFC 300[/caption]
GettyPereira landed a hellacious left hook to drop returning former champ Jamahal Hill[/caption]
GettyThe Brazilian unleashed a hellacious barrage of ground and pound to close the show[/caption]
GettyA fired-up Pereira roars with delight after his stunning KO win[/caption]
Pereira, 36, was the bookies’ favourite to come out of the historic card with the title, which he kept around his waist courtesy of a first-round KO.
The Brazilian bruiser vowed to make Hill eat his words after the American went from cordial to confrontational during Thursday’s pre-fight press conference.
And he delivered on his promise with a hellacious flurry of ground and pound after dropping him with a crushing left hook.
After notching his first-ever UFC title defence, Pereira said: “You guys can see what I was doing in there.
“I told everyone that he was a strong guy and I couldn’t go away from my strategy.
“I was getting the distance and my timing, everything went perfect.
“I don’t let this belt go to my head, I have to come in here and win it to become the champion.
“I want to continue defending this belt.”
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PER HALJESTAMAlx Pereira celebrates racking up his first defence of the light-heavyweight title[/caption]
PER HALJESTAMA dejected Jamahal Hill looks on as Pereira celebrates with the belt[/caption]
Pereira opened up the round with a series of hard low kicks to the former champion as he looked to get his range.
Chants of “Chama, Chama, Chama” rang out in support of Pereira before he narrowly missed a head kick.
Hill was tentative to close the distance early doors and looked to utilise his own kicks from range.
You could cut the tension in the arena with a knife as fans were all too aware of the danger posed by the champion.
Fans soon let out a collective groan as Hll accidentally low-blowed ‘Poatan’.
But the stoic Sao Paulo slugger pushed away referee Herb Dean as he brushed off the low blow.
And seconds later he sent the T-Mobile Arena into pandemonium with a lethal left hook that put Hill on his backside.
The two-division champion didnt waste the golden opportunity to close the show, unleashing a ferocious barrage of ground and pound that prompted Dean to wave off the contest.
Pereira is currently eyeing a shock three-week turnaround to headline UFC 301 in Rio de Janeiro.
But he wants to test himself by moving up to HEAVYWEIGHT.
He said: “I’m injury-free. I want to fight in Brazil. I know it’s a short time, but let’s see what happens.
“I know there needs to be promotion for a title fight, so I don’t care, let me do a fight at heavyweight.”
PER HALJESTAMAlex Pereira wants to headline UFC 301 in Rio in three weeks’ time[/caption]“}]]