Summary

  • Briton Tom Aspinall stops Sergei Pavlovich in 69 seconds to win interim UFC heavyweight title

  • Aspinall finishes Russian with right handle to the temple in first round

  • Manchester's Aspinall becomes third British UFC champion in history

  • Only Leon Edwards (welterweight) and Michael Bisping (middleweight) had won UFC titles before

  • Alex Pereira becomes two-weight champion in main event at Madison Square Garden

  • Brazilian defeats former light heavyweight champion Jiri Prochazka with second-round knockout

  • Pereira becomes fastest fighter in UFC history to win belts in different divisions

  1. Thank you and good nightpublished at 05:43 Greenwich Mean Time 12 November 2023

    Well that was everything I hoped for and more.

    That main card flew by with all five fights ending inside the distance - not one of them got out of round two.

    Huge congratulations to Tom Aspinall - the third British fighter to hold a UFC title after beating Sergei Pavlovich in 69 seconds to claim the interim heavyweight belt.

    So many questions about what is next for him.

    And Alex Pereira has set a new record for the fewest fights in the UFC to hold belts at two different weight classes - taking just seven to pick up the light-heavyweight strap after previously holding gold at middleweight.

    Pereira got the better of Jiri Prochazka to become the ninth two-division champion in the UFC.

    That's all from me tonight, thanks for coming along for the ride.

    You can read all about how it unfolded here with Paul Battison's report.

  2. Born To Brawl: Tom Aspinallpublished at 05:42 Greenwich Mean Time 12 November 2023

    Media caption,

    How Aspinall went from £20 in the bank to headlining UFC

  3. 'Aspinall is the real deal'published at 05:39 Greenwich Mean Time 12 November 2023

    Former middleweight champion and the first Brit to hold a UFC title, Michael Bisping on X, formerly known as Twitter: "I told ya!"

    Welterweight Michael Chiesa: "HOLYYYYYY SMOKES!!! Tom Aspinall is the real deal. Congrats to Tom and the country of England."

  4. 'Truly inspiring'published at 05:37 Greenwich Mean Time 12 November 2023

    Former two-weight UFC champion Henry Cejudo on X, formerly known as Twitter: "Wow Alex Pereira does it again! Welcome to the 2 belt club POATAN."

    Former bantamweight champion Aljamain Sterling: "Truly inspiring!! WOW!!"

  5. The moment of the stoppagepublished at 05:36 Greenwich Mean Time 12 November 2023

    Pereira beats Prochazka by TKO

    What do we think about the referee stoppage? A tad early? Or saving Jiri Prochazka from further damage?

    Jiri Prochazka on the floorImage source, Getty Images
  6. 'See you soon'published at 05:34 Greenwich Mean Time 12 November 2023

    It didn't take long for former UFC interim heavyweight champion Ciryl Gane to set his sights on new interim title-holder Tom Aspinall!

    Gane on X, formerly known as Twitter: "Congratulations, Tom. You are now the champion and become the one being pursued, and I am the hunter. See you soon."

  7. 'Respect warrior'published at 05:29 Greenwich Mean Time 12 November 2023

    UFC featherweight Max Holloway on X, formerly known as Twitter: "Jiri is a special dude. Most guys wouldn’t say what he just said. Respect warrior."

    Boxing trainer Teddy Atlas on X, formerly known as Twitter: "Punchers are born not made. Pereira is a puncher at any weight!"

  8. 'I'll be back'published at 05:25 Greenwich Mean Time 12 November 2023

    Pereira beats Prochazka by TKO

    Jiri Prochazka on TNT Sports: "I think in the end it was right, I was out but I will never stop.

    "I want to work on it and come back stronger than ever.

    "Thank you Alex [Pereira], I'll be back."

  9. 'Great honour'published at 05:21 Greenwich Mean Time 12 November 2023

    Pereira beats Prochazka by TKO

    Light-heavyweight champion Alex Pereira speaking to TNT Sports: "I'm not surprised [it was stopped] after the first left hook, he fell to my legs and I don't think it was a bad stoppage.

    "It's a great honour for me, especially to do this in Madison Square Garden. This means a lot to me and to my family.

    "I don't normally call people out but there is a guy [Israel Adesanya] who has made some interviews about me.

    "I know I'm not going to fight at middleweight so I want him to come up here to light-heavyweight].

    On facing Jamahal Hill next: "'I'm an active fighter and I want to fight him really soon."

    Alex Pereira has belt around his waist as Jiri Prochazka applaudsImage source, Getty Images
  10. Postpublished at 05:14 Greenwich Mean Time 12 November 2023

    Prochazka v Pereira

    That stoppage looked a little premature to me.

    Prochazka landed some good shots but Pereira countered with a left and followed with a lot of elbows to the side of the head.

    They were causing damage but Prochazka looked to be trying to wrap his arms around the legs of Pereira.

  11. Round twopublished at 05:13 Greenwich Mean Time 12 November 2023
    Breaking

    Prochazka v Pereira

    Pereira is a two-weight UFC champion.

  12. Round twopublished at 05:12 Greenwich Mean Time 12 November 2023

    Prochazka v Pereira

    Ohhhhh, Pereira looks hurt.

    Prochazka goes on the attack, backs Pereira on the cage and then lands a couple of good shots.

    The Czech can't get too comfortable there though, that's where Pereira dealt with Adesanya when he won the middleweight belt

    Alex Pereira punches Jiri ProchazkaImage source, Getty Images
  13. Round twopublished at 05:10 Greenwich Mean Time 12 November 2023

    Prochazka v Pereira

    I love Prochazka's unorthodox feints and the way he moves forward to close the distance from awkward angles.

    Pereira looks like he's still trying to get a read on that and then he lands a good jab and follows with a kick to the torso.

    Jiri Prochazka kicks Alex PereiraImage source, Getty Images
  14. Round onepublished at 05:08 Greenwich Mean Time 12 November 2023

    Prochazka v Pereira

    Good work from Pereira to find an opening and get back to his feet.

    They end the round stood face-to-face and it's a close one to call.

    Pereira's calf kicks dominated the early stages but Prochazka controlled well on the ground in the second half of the opening round.

  15. Round onepublished at 05:06 Greenwich Mean Time 12 November 2023

    Prochazka v Pereira

    Prochazka shoots for the first takedown and ends up in a guillotine.

    He doesn't panic, though and secures the takedown and readjusting.

    Pereira isn't too comfortable on the ground, especially with his back to the canvas and Prochazka is in full control

  16. Round onepublished at 05:04 Greenwich Mean Time 12 November 2023

    Prochazka v Pereira

    A much slower start than what we saw in the co-main.

    Both fighters are looking to find their range with kicks initially and Pereira catches Prochazka with a lovely calf kick - sending him down to the canvas.

    Actually, he follows with a couple more and Prochazka is looking unsteady on his feet.

  17. Postpublished at 05:02 Greenwich Mean Time 12 November 2023

    Prochazka v Pereira

    The introductions are over, there's one final stare down and the pair are welcomed to the centre of the octagon to get this under way.

    How did Alex Pereira ever make 185lbs???

  18. Head-to-headpublished at 05:01 Greenwich Mean Time 12 November 2023

    Prochazka v Pereira

    BBC graphic of Jiri Prochazka and Alex Pereira head-to-head statsImage source, Getty Images
  19. Gone in 69 seconds...published at 04:58 Greenwich Mean Time 12 November 2023

    Aspinall beats Pavlovich by knockout

    Tom Aspinall and Sergei PavlovichImage source, Getty Images
    Tom Aspinall and Sergei PavlovichImage source, Getty Images
    Tom Aspinall and Sergei PavlovichImage source, Getty Images
    Tom Aspinall and Sergei PavlovichImage source, Getty Images
    Tom AspinallImage source, Getty Images
  20. Postpublished at 04:58 Greenwich Mean Time 12 November 2023

    Prochazka v Pereira

    And now Jiri Prochazka, making his first walk to the octagon in 16 months after a serious shoulder injury.

    Always been a massive fan of his hair - don't think I could pull that look off.

    There's an incredibly tense stare down between Prochazka and Pereira as the pair stand on opposite sides of the octagon.