Alex Pereira knocked out Jamahal Hill in the first round to retain his light-heavyweight title at the landmark UFC 300 event in Las Vegas.
Brazil’s Pereira, 36, dropped American Hill, 32, with a left hook before finishing the fight with repeated ground strikes.
Pereira has now won seven of his eight UFC bouts in a remarkable two and a half years.
“When I step into the octagon I don’t see myself as champion,” said Pereira.
“I do the same thing in my personal life. I don’t let this belt go to my head ever.”
Max Holloway delivered the moment of the night at the T-Mobile Arena as he stopped fellow American Justin Gaethje in the final seconds of the pair’s lightweight bout for the symbolic BMF title.
Holloway, 32, pointed to the ground with 10 seconds to go, inviting Gaethje to stand and trade punches, before knocking him out with one second remaining as the pair swung wildly.
In the co-main event, Zhang Weili retained her strawweight title by unanimous decision against compatriot Yan Xiaonan in the UFC’s first all-Chinese championship bout.
Following the event, the UFC announced Ireland’s Conor McGregor would fight for the first time since July 2021 when he takes on American Michael Chandler at UFC 303 in Las Vegas on 29 June.
