LAS VEGAS – Alex Perez beat Jussier Formiga with a first-round TKO Saturday on the preliminary card at UFC 250 in Las Vegas.
Take a look inside the fight with Perez, who won for the third straight time and second consecutive time by first-round finish.
Result: Alex Perez def. Jussier Formiga via TKO (leg kicks) – Round 1, 4:06
Updated records: Perez (24-5 MMA, 6-1 UFC), Formiga (23-8 MMA, 9-7 UFC)
Key stat: More than half of Perez’s total strikes were to Formiga’s legs, which led to the TKO.
Perez on the fight’s key moment
“(The leg kicks) were just something I saw. We started off exchanging with hands and he stepped forward again, so I just kept going back to it.”
Perez on fighting a veteran like Formiga
“It means a lot. I’ve fought a lot of guys. I feel like he’s been the toughest guy I’ve fought so far. It’s kind of a bittersweet feeling. I’ve known this guy for a long time. I met him about 2010, my second amateur fight, when he was the No. 1 guy in the world at the time. It’s kind of like full circle. I came back and I fought him. He’s one of the guys I didn’t want to fight just because we are friends, but business is business. I’ve got to make money, and it is what it is.”
Perez on what he wants next
“The (ranking) number next to my name doesn’t matter – I’ve got to fight everyone. The only number that matters is No. 1 – that’s the champion. Other than that I couldn’t care less about the number I’ve got. I’m ready to fight. I’ll be here for the next two weeks just in case someone gets hurt. ”
To hear more from Perez, check out the video of the full post-fight interview above.
Alex Perez says UFC rankings don't matter – and he's ready to step in for a title shot
