Now this was a wonderful fight if you are into MMA
Alex Pereira’s meticulous preparation paid off in a major way, as his last-minute film study played a crucial role in his successful defense of the UFC light heavyweight title. The fight, which headlined UFC 303 in Las Vegas, saw Pereira facing Jiri Prochazka in a highly anticipated rematch. Once again, Pereira emerged victorious, this time delivering a decisive head kick that marked the beginning of the end for Prochazka.
UFC 303
LUTA COMPLETA – Alex Pereira x Jiri Prochazka 🥊 pic.twitter.com/JlVkA4fIiX
— Olhar Altivo (@olharaltivo) June 30, 2024
The bout had already seen intense action by the end of the first round, with Pereira landing significant strikes that severely shook Prochazka. As the second round began, Pereira executed a high kick that he attributed to a keen observation made by his coaching team just before the fight. In the post-fight press conference, Pereira, speaking through a Portuguese translator, explained that his coach Plinio had shown him a video of Prochazka’s warmup on Instagram. This video revealed that Prochazka was preparing to counter a calf kick, but Pereira noticed a flaw in his timing and strategy.
“Actually, I was in the locker room talking to Plinio, one of my coaches, and he showed me the video of Jiri warming up,” Pereira said. “I saw that he was planning to counterattack that calf kick. Defend and counter. But I told Plinio that he was doing the wrong timing, the timing was not good. So I saw that he was too focused on not taking that kick and he was keeping his hands down and leaving the head exposed. So I told him, I’m going to explore the high kick.”
WATCH: Alex Pereira’s brutal head kick to defeat Jiří Procházka last night at UFC 303 in Las Vegas pic.twitter.com/DzvaUh8vA8
— Overton (@OvertonLive) June 30, 2024
Pereira executed his plan flawlessly, connecting with the high kick and securing his second victory over Prochazka. Prochazka, known for his own knockout prowess, has yet to find a way to counter Pereira’s striking skills effectively.
This fight came about on short notice, as Pereira and Prochazka stepped in to replace the originally scheduled main event. Conor McGregor’s toe injury had led to the cancellation of his fight against Michael Chandler, necessitating the new matchup. Despite the short notice, both fighters brought their A-game, providing fans with an electrifying main event.
Reflecting on the intense pre-fight staredown with Prochazka, Pereira shared his thoughts on the moment. “I was focused,” he said. “I was looking at somebody that was focused, a warrior. It just gave me more motivation to do what I did.”
🥊: UFC
📺: UFC 303🌟 Alex Pereira (@AlexPereiraUFC) gets his “Yellow belt” wrapped around by Kayla Harrison (@kaylahchanel) after defeating Jiri Prochazka.#AlexPereira #KaylaHarrison #UFC303 #UFC
🥇Credit:@espnmma pic.twitter.com/Qa6bCo6Dnw
— Popcorn Catalyst 🧪🍿 (@PopcornCatalyst) June 30, 2024
Pereira and Prochazka’s battles will be remembered as significant moments in this era of UFC fighting, showcasing the high level of skill and strategy involved in the sport. Pereira’s ability to adapt and capitalize on last-minute insights highlights the importance of preparation and adaptability in achieving success in the octagon.
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