LAS VEGAS -- Alex Pereira has long been one of the world's greatest kickboxers. Jamahal Hill found that out the hard way in the main event of UFC 300 at T-Mobile Arena on Saturday.
After a largely uneventful couple of minutes, Hill went to throw a right hand at Pereira. Pereira unleashed a blistering left than landed on Hill's nose and sent the former champion down to the mat in a heap. His head banged off the canvas, loud enough for ringsiders to hear. Pereira finished him with a couple of shots from the top before referee Herb Dean stopped it at 3:14 of the first.
After it was stopped, Pereira stood
"I told everyone the whole time, he's a strong guy and I couldn't go away from my strategy," said Pereira, who was kicking at Hill a lot but hadn't thrown many punches before it was stopped.
Hill said he'd love to fight at heavyweight, which, if he could win a world title, would make him the first fighter in UFC history to win championships at three weights. Pereira said he'd like to fight in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, next month at UFC 301.
Pereira is establishing an incredible mark in MMA in such a short period of time. He made his UFC debut in 2021.