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UFC 295: Alex Pereira makes history after controversial finish

UFC fans have been left seeing red after a title fight came to a controversial finish as one fighter etched his name into the record books.

5 min read
November 12, 2023 - 4:48PM
Pereira conquered another UFC division. Sarah Stier/Getty Images/AFP.
Pereira conquered another UFC division. Sarah Stier/Getty Images/AFP.

Fight fans were treated to outrageous scenes at UFC 295 from Madison Square Garden with every fight on the main card ending in a KO.

No fight lasted longer than two rounds as the heavy shots came in thick and fast as killer blows left fans jumping out of their seats.

UFC 295: Prochazka vs. Pereira | SUN 12th NOV 2PM AEDT | Order Now with Main Event on Kayo Sports

Alex Pereira etched his name into the record books by becoming the ninth fighter in UFC history to win a title in two different divisions while England’s Tom Aspinall became the third Brit to climb the mountain and have the belt around his waist.

Recap the chaotic events below.

4.15pm – Pereira becomes light heavyweight champ

Alex Pereira has won his second UFC title after defeating Jiri Prochazka to become the light heavyweight champion of the world.

The fight came to an end in the second round when Pereira knocked Prochazka to the canvas with a monster counter right hand.

He followed up the telling blow with several devastating elbows that sent Prochazka tumbling to his back.

Referee Mark Goddard instantly jumped in to wave the fight off but the stoppage didn’t sit well with UFC fans.

“It’s a little early, I’m not satisfied with that stoppage,” Joe Rogan said as replays of the end of the fight rolled.

Daniel Cormier added: “He was definitely hurt but that was a little quick.”

MMA journalist Ariel Helwani weighed in on the stoppage: “At first glance, that felt like an early stoppage. Upon watching the replay, it feels like an early stoppage. Prochazka was definitely hurt. Just feels like it could have breathed a little more.”

UFC fighter Merab Dvalishvili wrote: “BULLSH*T EARLY STOPPAGE!!! MARC GODDARD DOES IT AGAIN!!! WE ARE FIGHTERS, LET US FIGHT!!!”

Pereira conquered another UFC division. Sarah Stier/Getty Images/AFP.
Pereira conquered another UFC division. Sarah Stier/Getty Images/AFP.

Despite the controversial finish to the fight, Pereira etched his name into the record books by becoming the first fighter in UFC history to win titles at light heavyweight and middleweight. Pereira becomes the quickest to titles in two weight classes in UFC history (7 fights).

The Brazilian superstar called out rival Israel Adesanya during his post-fight interview before turning his attention to former light heavyweight champion Jamahal Hill.

“Hey Adesanya … come to daddy,” the new champ said.

Prochazka was asked for his thoughts on the potentially early stoppage at the end of the fight but said the referee had made the correct call.

“I think at the end it was right, I was out but you know, I will never stop,” he said.

4pm – Prochazka vs. Pereira round by round

R1: After one of the most intense build ups from when both men entered the cage the fight got underway with Pereira knocking Prochazka to the canvas early with a damaging front kick. Pereira continued to attack his rival’s front leg as swelling began to form. Prochazka scored a take-down just over halfway through the round after escaping a guillotine attempt and took control of the fight with several big elbows. 10-9 Prochazka.

R2: Fireworks exploded in the middle of the round as the two men stood and traded blows with Prochazka landing the more telling of the shots that looked to have wobbled Pereira. As Prochazka landed a big right hand he rushed in and was struck by a counter right hand that dropped him to his knees. He grabbed onto the hips of Pereira as elbows came raining down.

The fight was brought to a stop, handing Pereira the light heavyweight title.

3.40pm – British star becomes interim heavyweight champ

Tom Aspinall … wow.

The English star has risen to the top of the heavyweight division after dispatching Sergei Pavlovich in the first round.

Aspinall was clocked in the opening exchanges by Pavlovich but quickly flipped the script as he landed a monster right hand that rocked his rival.

He followed it up shortly after with another hellacious right that sent Pavlovich crashing to the canvas and bringing the fight to an end.

2.45pm – ‘KO of the year' stuns UFC world

Benoît Saint-Denis has all but locked up a bonus pay cheque after delivering an insane knockout in the opening round of his fight against Matt Frevola.

The French superstar turned Frevola’s lights out with an outrageous head kick that left the entire UFC world in disbelief.

The kick came out of nowhere and left those watching on stunned as Saint-Denis proved he’s a force to be reckoned with in the lightweight division.

Ariel Helwani wrote: “BSD is the real freaking deal. Wow. First round KO pour le Francais.”

CODE Sports’ Brendan Bradford wrote: “KO of the year contender. WOW.”

It was the Frenchman’s sixth first-round finish of his career and left Daniel Cormier stunned.

“Absolutely [my jaw was dropped],” Cormier said.

“You know what part of it is. It’s a literal rush or panic to get away from the pressure. That’s why Matt Frevola was almost running away from him, because he could not find a way to release that pressure.

“So he got a bit desperate to get away and by trying to run away, Saint Denis set him up. Beautiful head kick.”

2.25pm – ‘This dude is sick’: Main card off to insane start

Diego Lopes is the real deal.

The Brazilian star got the main card off to an absurd start after turning the lights off on Pat Sabatini.

In the opening round of their fight, the two men wrestled on the canvas before getting back to their feet.

As they did Lopes threw a right hand uppercut but it was a follow up overhand right that did the damage.

The hellacious shot landed flush on the temple of Sabatini sending him stumbling back to the cage where Lopes pounced and finished the fight shortly after.

“He did it again. This dude is sick,” Daniel Cormier said on commentary.

1pm – Star’s wild post-fight drug admission

UFC fighter Jared Gordon delivered a stunning display during the early prelim fights at Madison Square Garden.

Gordon captured a TKO victory against Mark Madsen after referee Mark Goddard was forced to step in.

But it was during his post-fight interview when he opened up and made a raw admission regarding his drug addiction struggles.

“I grew up in this city, New York, you made me,” he said. “My grandfather fought in this stadium four times.

“I used shoot heroin in Penn Station underneath this building. Now I’m fighting in it and knocking guys out.

“You can do anything if you put your mind to it and faith a little faith in God.”

12pm – UFC 295 card and results

Main Card (2pm AEDT, PPV)

Alex Pereira def. Jiri Prochazka via TKO (Elbows); R2, 4:08.

Tom Aspinall def. Sergei Pavlovich via KO (punches) – R1, 1:09

Jessica Andrade def. Mackenzie Dern via KO (Punches); R2, 3:15.

Benoît Saint-Denis def. Matt Frevola via KO, R1 – 1:31

Diego Lopes def. Pat Sabatini via KO (Punches); R1, 1:30

Preliminary card (12pm AEDT on ESPN)

Stephen Erceg def. Alessandro Costa via unanimous decision (29-28 x3)

Loopy Godinez def. Tabatha Ricci via split decision (27-30, 29-28, 29-28)

Mateusz Rebecki def. Roosevelt Roberts via submission (armbar) (R1, 3:08)

Viacheslav Borshchev vs. Nazim Sadykhov is majority draw (29-28, 28-28 x2)

Jared Gordon def. Mark Madsen via first-round TKO (4:42) | Watch finish

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John Castaneda def. Kyung Ho Kang via unanimous decision (30-27 x3)

Joshua Van def. Kevin Borjas via unanimous decision (29-28 x3)

Jamall Emmers def. Dennis Buzukja via first-round TKO (0:49)

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Original URL: https://www.news.com.au/sport/ufc/ufc-295-live-updates-jared-gordons-postfight-drug-admission/news-story/6d1ea357d097e0267238c226c6984ad4