Sean Strickland and Alex Pereira will collide at UFC 276 tonight and only one man will emerge as a middleweight title contender following the event. Strickland vs Pereira will stream live only on ESPN+ PPV.
Pereira, the only fighter to knock out current middleweight champion Israel Adesanya in kickboxing, is now on a fast track to a UFC title shot after the promotion has matched him with #4 ranked Strickland. Strickland enters on a six-fight win streak with recent victories against Jack Hermansson, Uriah Hall, and Krzysztof Jotko.
Read on for all of our play-by-play updates, live results, and highlights from Sean Strickland vs Alex Pereira at UFC 276.
Sean Strickland vs Alex Pereira play-by-play
Watch the fight live or the full replay only on ESPN+ PPV.
Round one
We’re underway. Low kick from Pereira. Body kick. Jab. He’s starting this one with volume. He looks calm as Strickland slowly marches toward him. It looks like Strickland is going to try and kickbox with Pereira rather than making this one a mixed martial arts fight – let’s see how it plays out.
Nice jab from Pereira and Strickland returns one of his own. Strickland advancing but Pereira looks comfortable so far, mixing up punches to the head and body. Strickland’s jabs are starting to land now as he looks to be finding his range. Right hand touches the chin of Strickland. Low kicks from Pereira now.
A powerful left hook from Pereira connects and sends Strickland flying. Tons of power in that one and Strickland tries to get back to his feet but is met with another stiff right hand from Pereira. Referee Jason Herzog calls an end to it before Pereira gets a chance to follow through with more punches. That’s another win for Pereira in the books.
Official Result: Alex Pereira def. Sean Strickland via knockout (left hook) – R1, 2:36
DON'T PLAY WITH THE POWER OF POATAN 🤯
[ #UFC276 | #UFCFightWeek | Live on ESPN+ PPV: https://t.co/f2ejdXxGz3 ] pic.twitter.com/mxp7nhek3P
— UFC (@ufc) July 3, 2022
Top 5 look out, here comes Alex Pereira 😤
[ #UFC276 | #UFCFightWeek | Live on ESPN+ PPV: https://t.co/f2ejdXg5Hv ] pic.twitter.com/qfc69dy2vq
— UFC (@ufc) July 3, 2022
Fighters react to Strickland vs. Pereira
Damn that hook was vicious ! 🔥 #UFC276
— Derek Brunson (@DerekBrunson) July 3, 2022
This guy must have sledgehammers for fists! That was INSANE!! #UFC276
— Aljamain Sterling (@funkmasterMMA) July 3, 2022
Geez, mans got power#UFC276
— UroÅ¡ Medić (@urketaraketa) July 3, 2022
Wrestling olympians ,Wrestling all Americans , Glory champs , bjj goats … the list goes on . No other division like so 💯 #UFC276
— Derek Brunson (@DerekBrunson) July 3, 2022
OH MY GOD!! Where did that come from?😳 KO of the night#UFC276
— Diana Belbiță (@DianaBelbita) July 3, 2022