In probably the most aggressive classes lately, undisputed gentle heavyweight champion, Alex Pereira has narrowly pipped unbeaten featherweight kingpin, Ilia Topuria to the LowKick MMA Male Fighter of the 12 months award for 2024 — following a trio of consecutive crown defenses, in gorgeous trend to prime issues off.
Pereira, a former undisputed middleweight kingpin, entered the yr off the again of a vacant 205lbs title win over Jiri Prochazka in November of final yr at Madison Sq. Backyard.
And first tasked with defending his title in an impromtu headliner on the monumental UFC 300 card, Sao Paulo ace, Pereira would tackle bitter rival, Jamahal Hill in a bad-blooded grudge struggle atop the flagship occasion.
Alex Pereira lands LowKick MMA Male Fighter of the 12 months Awards
Laying waste to the brash Illinois native with complete ease within the opening body, Brazilian fan-favorite, Alex Pereira stopped the ex-champion with a thunderous first spherical knockout win, earlier than handing over one other viral celebration towards the Contender Collection alum.
Requiring his companies on short-notice as soon as extra at UFC 303 throughout Worldwide Combat Week, Alex Pereira changed an injury-stricken, Conor McGregor on simply weeks discover, as soon as extra drawing Prochazka, who was recent from his gained spectacular win at UFC 300.
Gorgeous the Czech finisher on the finish of the primary spherical, Pereira wasted no time sealing the deal on one other title protection, felling the previous with a devastating high-kick simply moments within the second spherical in ‘Sin Metropolis’
Rounding off his schedule for the yr in Salt Lake Metropolis, Pereira took on the surging, Khalil Rountree — who proved to be essentially the most admirable challenger to his throne this yr alone.
Forcing the Brazilian to a fourth spherical in a championship back-and-forth, turning into his groove within the opening of two championship rounds, Pereira bloodied, brutalized, and beat Rountree on the Octagon fence, forcing a end on the mercy of the viewers, having cut up the challenger with a number of lacerations.
Linked with a possible heavyweight transfer within the close to future to tackle both champion, Jon Jones or the formidable, Tom Aspinall, Pereira has claimed his subsequent outing is not going to come reverse arch-enemy, Magomed Ankalaev — who has lengthy staked his declare for an opportunity to tackle the previous GLORY Kickboxing ace.
