Alex Pereira potentially positioned himself for a light heavyweight title shot on Saturday when he defeated former champion Jan Blachowicz in the UFC 291 co-main event.
Pereira (8-2 MMA, 5-1 UFC), a former middleweight titleholder, emerged victorious in his 205-pound debut when he earned a split decision over Blachowicz (29-10-1 MMA, 12-7-1 UFC) in the high-stakes bout at Delta Center in Salt Lake City.
After Jamahal Hill recently relinquished the title, there’s an opportunity for two fighters to slide into the vacant title bout. Pereira may have done just that.
Check below for the top Twitter reactions to Pereira’s victory over Blachowicz at UFC 291.
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This is not good to Pereira… #UFC291
— Bruno Massami (Бруно Массами) (@BrMassami) July 30, 2023
10-9 Blachowicz
All of that time stopping Glover from drowning him in a river paying dividends for Pereira
— Aaron Bronsteter (@aaronbronsteter) July 30, 2023
Limping a little back to the corner from Alex
— Belal Muhammad (@bullyb170) July 30, 2023
That double was really well timed by Jan!
— Funky (@Benaskren) July 30, 2023
Jan is tired tired
— Belal Muhammad (@bullyb170) July 30, 2023
Jan looking gassed heading into the third.
19-19
— Aaron Bronsteter (@aaronbronsteter) July 30, 2023
Elevation getting to Jan?!
— Matt Brown (@IamTheImmortal) July 30, 2023
I got it 1 round a piece! Pereira coming on strong after the TDs. Very interesting turn. #UFC291
— Aljamain Sterling (@funkmasterMMA) July 30, 2023
Did Jan not go to altitude to prepare for this fight??
— Lando Vannata (@GroovyLando) July 30, 2023
Throw a knee up the middle
— Belal Muhammad (@bullyb170) July 30, 2023
Pereira firing leg kicks. Jan steps in, finishes a combo with a kick of his own. Another leg kick lands for Poatan. Jab to the body. Pereira showing considerable patience here in R3. #UFC291
— Cageside Press (@Cagesidepress) July 30, 2023
29-28 Pereira
Of all the fights to go the distance, I'm sure few had this one on their Bingo card.
— Aaron Bronsteter (@aaronbronsteter) July 30, 2023
Pereira not as aggressive as we usually see him but don’t forget he’s coming off a KO loss. Also has to be wary of the takedown. I expected him to press Jan more after the end of Round 2. Anybody’s fight but I think 29-28 Pereira. #UFC291
— Farah Hannoun (@Farah_Hannoun) July 30, 2023
