Alex Pereira first became a champion kickboxer and then moved to the UFC and won title belts in the middleweight and light heavyweight divisions.
After Saturday night’s convincing victory over top-ranked challenger Jiri Prochazka in UFC 303, he might not be done. Pereira could move up to heavyweight and do what no UFC fighter has ever accomplished — win championships in three weight classes.
He put himself in position after delivering a vicious left kick to Prochazka’s head and then pounded him, ending the fight 13 seconds into the second round to retain his light heavyweight championship.
Photo: AFP
“I think that’s in my future,” Pereira, who is from Brazil, said through an interpreter. “I said that the last time I was here. I’m here, I’m available and I think that’s in my best interest.”
UFC President Dana White was not ready to commit, noting his respect for heavyweight champion Jon Jones.
“We’ll see how this whole thing plays out,” White said.
Pereira (11-2) now has beaten Prochazka (30-5-1) twice since November last year to end any doubts about who reigns in that weight class.
Pereira and Prochazka engaged in a lengthy staredown that carried through Bruce Buffer’s fighter introductions and referee Herb Dean’s instructions.
Both fighters spent the opening round feeling each other out, but there was a strong hint of what was to come as it ended. Pereira knocked down Prochazka with a left hand, but it occurred after the bell. Then he finished the job.
“I’ve been saying all week that I was going to come out and be victorious,” said Pereira, who turns 37 on Sunday. “I didn’t know how I was going to win.”
Prochazka, a 31-year-old from Czechia, was not made available to the media. If Pereira does move up to heavyweight, that could help him in his effort to reclaim the belt he held briefly two years ago.
Second-ranked challenger Magomed Ankalaev and No. 3 Jamahal Hill also could have a big say in who rules the division. Hill originally was scheduled to fight in the comain event, but a knee injury while training forced him out.
Prochazka’s bout with Pereira was a rematch after they faced off on Nov. 11 last year at Madison Square Garden.
Pereira won the championship that night with a technical knockout at 4 minutes, 8 seconds into the second round to claim the vacated light heavyweight champion title.
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