Alex Pereira is the current UFC light heavyweight champion. The 36-year-old Brazilian captured the 205lb belt by stopping former champion Jiri Prochazka at 295 last 11 November 2023, at the iconic Madison Square Garden in New York.
Poatan won the light heavyweight belt in only his second fight in that weight class. He made his 205-pound debut by defeating another former champion Jan Blachowicz via split decision at UFC 291 in July of last year.
Prior to fighting at his current weight class, Poatan fought kickboxing rival Israel Adesanya in back-to-back UFC middleweight title fights.
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Pereira became a first-time UFC champion when he stopped Adesanya at the main event of UFC 281 which was also held at the fabled New York Garden. However, Adesanya got back at Pereira by knocking him out cold at UFC 287 five months later. The Brazilian moved up in weight after that defeat.
Alex Pereira v Jamahal Hill
The Brazilian will make the first defence of the light heavyweight title at UFC 300 on 14 April 2024, at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. He will be facing the current no. 1 contender Jamahal Hill, who was the champion prior to Pereira’s reign.
Hill defeated Glover Teixeira at UFC 283 last 21 January 2023, to capture the UFC light heavyweight title. He, however, relinquished the belt after suffering an injury while playing basketball with fellow UFC fighters at last year’s International Fight Week.