UFC free fight: Alex Pereira outpoints Jan Blachowicz in light heavyweight debut

Alex Pereira didn’t have it easy in his first fight at 205 pounds.

Pereira met former UFC light heavyweight champion Jan Blachowicz in his divisional debut at UFC 291 in July. After getting dominated in the first round, Pereira came back to win the second and third round with his strikes and improved takedown defense. It was a gritty performance that earned Pereira a title shot.

You can watch Pereira’s light heavyweight debut win in the video above.

Pereira (8-2 MMA, 5-1 UFC) returns in the main event of Saturday’s UFC 295, which takes place at Madison Square Garden in New York. The main card airs on pay-per-view following prelims on ESPNews and early prelims on ESPN+.

Pereira takes on Jiri Prochazka (29-3-1 MMA, 3-0 UFC) for the vacant light heavyweight title. This bout marks Pereira’s second fight since moving up to the light heavyweight division.

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 295.