Reigning GLORY middleweight champion Alex Pereira successfully defended his title earlier today (Sat., Dec. 21, 2019) at GLORY 74 live on UFC Fight Pass from inside GelreDome in Arnhem, Netherlands, as the Brazilian striker finished Turkish challenger Ertugrul Bayrak via first-round knockout (left hook).
Pereira, who is known among MMA fans as the guy who knocked out UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya, came into this fight with four-straight title defenses of the GLORY middleweight championship. The 32-year-old star was also coming off a knockout victory over Donegi Abena back in September to claim the interim GLORY light heavyweight title (yes, GLORY has interim titles, too).
Pereira only needed a few minutes to break down Bayrak and time his shot along the ropes late into the first round. Out of nowhere, the champion blasted the challenger with a perfectly-timed left hook. The punch connected flush with Bayrak’s chin and sent the Turkish youngster diving into the ropes. Bayrak laid still for a few moments before regaining consciousness.
Check out the finish above courtesy of GLORY Kickboxing.
Even before this insane knockout finish Pereira was considered one of the best pound-for-pound kickboxers in the world today. With the stoppage, the Brazilian veteran pushes his record to 9-1 since his infamous destruction of “Last Stylebender” back in 2017, which also came at the hands of a Pereira left hook.