At UFC 303, Alex Pereira delivered a spectacular performance that reaffirmed his status as a top contender in the UFC. Facing a formidable opponent, Pereira showcased his striking excellence and strategic prowess throughout the bout. With a mix of precise strikes and powerful combinations, he secured a decisive victory that thrilled fans and further cemented his reputation as one of the sport’s most dangerous strikers. This win not only highlighted his skill and preparation but also set the stage for future high-stakes matchups in the UFC.

Before his win against Jiří Procházka, Alex Pereira successfully defended his UFC light heavyweight title with a brutal first-round TKO against Jamahal Hill during the milestone UFC 300 event in Las Vegas.

Pereira’s powerful striking skills were on full display as he quickly neutralized Hill. After a kick from Hill to the beltline, referee Herb Dean paused to check for a foul, but Pereira signaled to continue. Moments later, Pereira delivered a devastating left hook that knocked Hill to the ground, followed by a barrage of strikes, bringing the bout to an abrupt conclusion.

The fight’s outcome was met with widespread acclaim, celebrating Pereira’s dominance and skill.

The victory brings some much-needed consistency to the light heavyweight division, which has seen significant fluctuations since Jon Jones moved up to the heavyweight category. Pereira has become only the second fighter to hold and defend the title since Jones vacated it in 2020. But when you look at the stats, things look scary. He’s had only 8 UFC bouts so far, won 7 (the only loss was against Israel Adesanya), won 5 of them via knockouts, and he’s already been part of 4 title bouts.

At first sight, we don’t remember any other UFC fighter in the sport’s history to be that competitive, let alone having two belts. The division has been ultra-competitive, with five different champions crowned since Jones’ departure, including Hill, who captured the title in January 2023 by defeating Glover Teixeira. However, Hill had to lose the title due to an Achilles injury, paving the way for Pereira to claim the championship after stepping up from middleweight to face Jiří Procházka at UFC 295.

At 36, Pereira is not showing any signs of slowing down, which is admirable. He already said he’s already looking forward to UFC 301, scheduled for May 4 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Competing in his native Brazil, he aimed to defend his title once more in front of a home crowd. However, the plans had to be readjusted.

No UFC 301 for “Poatan”, why is that?

Despite a remarkable victory at UFC 300 where Alex Pereira secured a first-round knockout against Jamahal Hill, even after fracturing a toe prior to the fight, his rapid return to the octagon is now in question. Pereira, nicknamed “Poatan,” has expressed eagerness to fight again at UFC 301 as a heavyweight just 21 days later. However, his manager Jorge Guimarães, speaking on MMA Fighting’s Trocação Franca podcast, recommended a more cautious approach due to Pereira’s injuries.

Guimarães emphasized that Pereira should take time to heal and enjoy his triumph before jumping back into the fray, dismissing any possibility of competing soon. “He needs to dock at the shipyard, let the dust settle, and celebrate the victory. Maybe go to Brazil to watch UFC 301, but competing is off the table,” Guimarães explained. So, instead of “putting it all on red” like players do at Lets Lucky online casino, maybe more rest is needed.

The interim heavyweight champion, Tom Aspinall, who witnessed Pereira’s fight from the sidelines, might have felt a bit of a lucky strike—akin to a sudden win—seeing Pereira’s formidable presence and performance. Guimarães humorously noted that the fight seemed to have a chilling effect on Aspinall, akin to witnessing a sudden turn of the wheel in one’s favor.

While there’s talk of a potential champion-versus-champion bout with Aspinall in Manchester come July, Guimarães believes it’s too soon to consider. “I don’t see it as a wise move for Aspinall right now. It’s early days, and with him being the interim champion, it doesn’t make much sense to rush into a match with ‘Poatan’,” he remarked.

Guimarães reaffirmed that the current plan is for Pereira to defend his light heavyweight title next. Although Pereira is keen to ascend to the heavyweight division, the move depends on an appropriate proposal from the UFC. “He’s extremely confident and eager to make the most of his career. He could really shine as a heavyweight. We’ll see what opportunities the UFC presents, but his appearance in Rio is definitely not happening,” Guimarães concluded.