Alex Pereira is first to make his walk to the octagon for the headline bout of the night.

The Brazilian is such an intimidating specimen.

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Much like Jiri Prochazka's swift run to UFC gold, Alex Pereira has also been fast tracked through the ranks.

After winning titles in two weight classes with kickboxing promotion Glory, who recently inducted Pereira into their Hall of Fame, the Brazilian went seeking a new challenge in MMA.

Following four fights with lesser known promotions, Pereira was snapped up by the UFC in 2021 and he was handed a shot at middleweight champion and old foe Israel Adesanya in 2022.

Pereira twice beat Adesanya in Glory and he made it three wins in a row when he took the UFC middleweight belt.

Adesanya won the rematch, though, and Pereira has since moved up to light-heavyweight, beating Jan Blachowicz in July and subsequently earning his chance to compete for the vacant belt.

Pereira makes just his seventh walk to the UFC octagon tonight and, should he win, he will break Randy Couture's 11-bout record as the UFC fighter to become a two-division champion in the shortest number of fights.

"I don't know what the criteria is for calling somebody the greatest, I don't think about it that much," said Pereira.

"When I did what I did at Glory I wasn't thinking about the Hall of Fame or anything like that, I just wanted to be champion and I did it - same thing in the UFC.

"But if I get this, of course it would be a pleasure and I would love to be considered [among the greatest]."

Tom Aspinall and his dad Andy, share a moment in the cage.

No, you're crying!

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Billed as "warrior versus warrior", this could blow the roof of Madison Square Garden.

Jiri Prochazka and Alex Pereira square off for the vacant light-heavyweight belt in a bout that has the potential to be a Fight of the Year contender.

Czech Republic's Prochazka practices bushido - the moral code followed by Japanese samurai - and Pereira embodies the spirit of his tribal ancestors in Brazil.

Prochazka only made his UFC debut in 2020 and, having caught the eye with two stunning knockout wins, he was handed a title fight in just his third contest - beating Glover Teixeira to win the light-heavyweight belt.

The 31-year-old later vacated the belt due to a serious shoulder injury and he's back tonight to try and reclaim what he believes is rightfully his.

Jamahall Hill won the title in Prochazka's absence but an Achilles injury forced him to vacate in July.

"I don't want to speak about my samurai character - it's true I've been inspired many years by the bushido," said Prochazka.

"This type of focus for a fight and everything in your life, to do it with full focus, and give all your heart to your performance - that's why we are warriors, because we go there and there is nothing less."

I'm still trying to get my head around this.

Tom Aspinall is getting more emotional by the second as he walks back to the locker room with the interim heavyweight title over his shoulder.

That man honestly looks unstoppable!

What next? It's likely to be a while until heavyweight champion Jon Jones is fully recovered and he'll likely face Stipe Miocic.

So much to digest but the key thing is Britain now has two current UFC champions.

On to the main event...

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Interim heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall on TNT Sports: "It has been a crazy two and a half weeks.

"I want to tell everyone at home, If you every get the chance to do something and you're scared to do it, you should just do it.

"He's a scary guy. I've never been so scared in my life but I have power too and I believed in myself.

"I've worked so hard over the years and no one has worked harder than my father so this belt is dedicated to him.

"I was struggling with the distance a little bit but we got there in the end."

Aspinall got the job done in one minute and nine seconds.

He maintains his record of running through opponents and is visibly emotional as the belt gets placed around his waist.

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A right to the temple started the sequence and then Aspinall follows with a swift one-two.

He has dispatched so many opponents in that kind of manner but to do it when winning the interim heavyweight title is something else.

It's over!

Tom Aspinall is the interim heavyweight champion of the world.

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The legendary octagon announcer Bruce Buffer is currently doing his thing as the lights are dimmed at the famous Madison Square Garden.

A great sign of respect between Pavlovich and Aspinall as they meet in the middle and huge before backing off to the edge of the octagon to await the start of this fight.

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Tom Aspinall, adorned in a purple flowery shirt he said he bout "especially for the occasion" was on great form at Thursday's news conference.

The 30-year-old even went as far as to compare himself to a honey badger - a small mammal known for their aggressive nature towards larger predators when threatened.

"I'm pretty scared, but I do my best work scared," said Aspinall.

"He's a scary, intimidating guy. But fear is something I have a really good relationship with. It gives me a superpower - the more scared I am, the better I do in the fight.

"I'm the 'Honey Badger' moving forward, so I'm happy with that. That's cool."

Former UFC featherweight champion Max Holloway: "If I was a betting man I'd rock with Aspinall a little bit more. But these are heavyweights. One punch, one kick, one knee can change the fight. Big Tom has the speed, Pavlovich has the power. This is going to be a fun fight, someone is getting knocked out."

UFC featherweight Arnold Allen: "Obviously I want Tom Aspinall to win. My only question is what shape is he in? Has he been preparing for a fight? How's his cardio over five rounds for an interim title? Pavlovich has been preparing for an opponent, so it's interesting. I think if Aspinall can get the fight to the ground he will win, but Pavlovich on the feet... It's always 50-50 with heavyweights."

UFC flyweight Muhammad Mokaev: "Aspinall by second-round finish."

And here comes Sergei Pavlovich.

He looks so much bigger than Tom Aspinall - he's actually a couple of inches shorter - but he's a broad fella.

Aspinall has chopped down some pretty big trees in this heavyweight division before, can he do it again or will Pavlovich be walking out of the octagon tonight as the interim heavyweight champion?

Welsh featherweight Jack Shore: "I think Tom will be too well rounded and too fast. I'm going for a second round submission or KO for Tom."

UFC welterweight Belal Muhammad: "There isn't a heavyweight like Aspinall. His movement, his footwork is so good and he has wrestling. I think it comes to avoiding that first storm from Pavlovich. I think Aspinall needs to be smart with his footwork, stay on the outside and not get in a slugfest, and I think Aspinall could end up finishing him in the later rounds."

Former two-weight UFC champion Henry Cejudo: "I hope this fight goes five rounds. Aspinall is more well-rounded, he has more submissions, but Pavlovich has more of that vicious power, he can put you away and he takes chances. The simple fact that Pavlovich is willing to take more chances is why I'm going with him as the new interim heavyweight champion of the world."

The moment is upon us, Tom Aspinall is looking as cool as they come as he walks to the octagon with an English flag draped over his shoulders.

Of course, the perfect song choice too - Sting's 'Englishman in New York'.

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Tonight's co-main event is scheduled for five rounds with the interim heavyweight title on the line.

What are the chances that we'll go the distance, though?

Well, a quick glance at the records of Tom Aspinall and Sergei Pavlovich suggests the judges can go and make a cuppa (or the American equivalent).

At one minute 36 seconds, Aspinall has the shortest average fight time in UFC history (minimum of five fights).

Pavlovich, meanwhile, has the second shortest average of an active fighter, at two minutes and 22 seconds.

The 31-year-old Russian has won seven of his eight fights in the UFC - all by first-round knockout - with his sole loss coming against Alastair Overeem on his debut.

"It's scary. But I love that, I absolutely love that," said Aspinall.

"I think both of our resumes speak for themselves. So I think you've got to expect fireworks. I think it's two absolute machines going against each other and it's not something you see very often in the heavyweight division.

"You see a lot of brawls and stuff, but not with the finishing ability that we've both got, so it's going to be exciting."

Former UFC champion Michael Bisping: "I think Aspinall takes it. Round one. Big fan of Sergei as well though."

UFC heavyweight contender Jailton Almeida: "I think I'll favour Pavlovich. He's the guy with the full camp, and Aspinall was just training to train. He wasn't mentally ready for a title fight. He wasn't thinking about the title."

WBC heavyweight champion Tyson Fury: "This is a massive opportunity for Aspinall. We come from nearly the same area, just a couple of miles from each other. I know how long and hard he's trained for an opportunity like this. It definitely can be done, I've always said since he started in the UFC he's capable of winning the heavyweight championship of the world. He can go there, seize it with both hands and immortality awaits."