Ruthless Alex Pereira stops Jamahal Hill at UFC 300 to retain light heavyweight championship

Alex Pereira retained his UFC light heavyweight championship with a ruthless stoppage victory over Jamahal Hill at UFC 300 in Las Vegas on Saturday night.

Hill was making his return in pursuit of the belt he had to vacate. The American ruptured his Achilles tendon in 2023 and had to give up his strap.

It was Pereira who had the chance to step in to claim the belt in Hill’s absence, and in some of the pre-fight events, the crowd were happy to back the Brazilian before the clash.

Both men were experienced fighters with plenty of punching power, and while there was evident respect between the two men, there was no lack of antagonism either.

That continued into the cage walks, with Hill goading his opponent as he walked towards the ring.

Despite any bad blood the pair touched gloves and Pereira, a former kickboxing champion, opened with some kicks to the legs, with Hill responding in kind.

The first meaningful action saw Pereira make heavy contact with a body kick before Hill responded with a right hand a split second after.

Pereira waved away the referee after a low blow from Hill, but with that briefest of interventions, the champion seized on the window of opportunity, knocked Hill to the ground and rained down a flurry of blows and left Hill reeling on the floor before the referee waved away the contest.

Speaking after the figth, Pereira spoke about his win through an interpreter, explaining his approach.

"I was gauging the distance and timing," the champion noted. "Everything went perfect."

He added that he wanted a swift return to action, but this time at heavyweight, and in his home country of Brazil on May 4 for UFC 301.

"I want this fight," Pereira said. "I'm not hurt. Nothing happened.

"I don't let this belt go to my head. I have to go in here and win this belt every time to be champion."

In the co-main event, Weili Zhang won the women's strawweight championship clash against Yan Xiaonan by decision. It was her second defence of the title.

Before then, Max Holloway claimed the lightweight BMF belt in hugely dramatic circumstances. With just a second remaining of the fifth round, he stopped Justin Gaethje in what might go down as the fight or knockout of the night.

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