LAS VEGAS (AP) — Light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira knocked out top-ranked challenger Jamahal Hill at 3:14 of the first round in UFC 300 on Saturday night.
Pereira dropped Hill to the canvas with a straight left hand and then pounded him. Referee Herb Dean stepped in to stop the fight, giving the Brazilian the victory.
Pereira, 36, was a minus-132 favorite, according to FanDuel Sportsbook.
“I see myself as the champion. I didn’t want to let the belt go to my head,” Pereira said through an interpreter. “I had to step in and win the championship.”
Hill, 32, was the previous title holder, but a torn Achilles tendon forced him to vacate the championship last July. That put the belt in Pereira’s hands, eventually setting up this matchup and is fourth pay-per-view event in 16 months.
As would be expected from a milestone card number, this was a strong lineup that included 12 current or former champions, and 11 have headlined UFC pay-per-view events.
Shooting injures 2 at Missouri high school graduation ceremony
Argentina and Messi will play 2 warm
FDIC chair is grilled on Capitol Hill after report outlines agency's toxic workplace culture
A windswept Natalie Portman and John Krasinski film a high
Everybody may love Raymond, but Ray Romano loves Peter Boyle
The number of child migrants arriving in an Italian city has more than doubled, a report says
Louisville native Justin Thomas has work to do at PGA Championship, but 2
Ship that caused Baltimore bridge collapse has been refloated
Sweden beats France, Britain relegated after losing to Norway at hockey worlds
Wembanyama headlines France's preliminary roster for Paris Olympics basketball tournament