April 14, 2024 10:15 am ET
LAS VEGAS– Alex Pereira felt it was necessary to offer Jamahal Hill a taste of his own medication after scoring a knockout in the UFC 300 centerpiece.
Pereira (10-2 MMA, 7-1 UFC) protected his light heavyweight title for the very first time Saturday at T-Mobile Arena when, following a low blow that he waved off referee Herb Dean from stopping the action, landed a big punch that dropped Hill (12-2 MMA, 6-2 UFC) and spelled completion of the battle inside the preliminary.
With Hill downed on the canvas, Pereira teased his opposition in rather uncharacteristic style. The Brazilian stated he did so after Hill lionized early in the week, however then chose to be strong with his remarks and actions at the pre-fight interview and ritualistic weigh-ins.
“I talked to my group in the past,” Pereira informed MMA Junkie and other press reporters through an interpreter at the UFC 300 post-fight interview. “I wished to combat 5 rounds, however if the knockout would occur that was what I was going to do. He acted not so excellent. He was considerate throughout the week then he did what he did throughout journalism conference and the weigh-ins. Truthfully, the least that I might do was simply that to him.”
Pereira, 36, stated it was a mindful choice to wave off the low blow blockage. He was discovering his convenience zone in the battle, and didn’t wish to provide Hill an opportunity to reset.
“I was beginning to discover my range,” Pereira stated. “I began utilizing leg kicks from the start so I might discover his range. He’s a southpaw so it’s a little more difficult. My strategy was to begin tossing hands after that. Then he tossed the groin shot, however it did not harm me so much so I selected to keep pressing so I might discover the range, and I capitalized on the minute.”
The triumph by Pereira was even more outstanding by the reality he entered into the battle jeopardized. UFC CEO Dana White exposed he suffered a damaged toe in the weeks leading up to the battle, which Pereira verified, however stated he just could not withdraw from a centerpiece area on perhaps the most significant card in UFC history.
“That took place in the last number of weeks,” Pereira stated. “It’s not something that I was going to take out of the battle. I needed to press through. It occurred in the minute of my camp that I needed to be decreasing my training, so I needed to simply press through.”
Regardless of the injury, Pereira repeated what he stated in the octagon to Joe Rogan because he would want to make a three-week turn-around to eliminate at UFC 301 in Brazil on May 4. Whether that takes place stays to be seen, however for now, Pereira means to enjoy his triumph on such a huge card.