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Alex Pereira needed just 3 minutes 14 seconds to knock out Jamahal Hill and retain his light heavyweight title on Saturday night at UFC 300 in Las Vegas.
Pereira (10-2-0) put together a stunning sequence that began with him getting kicked below the belt and not even flinching. The referee called for a break in the action after the blow, but when he came up to Pereira, Pereira waved him off while never breaking eye contact with Hill (12-2-0).
What followed was a quick left hook from Pereira that sent Hill stumbling to the mat. Pereira then delivered a series of punches to Hill's face, sealing his third straight UFC victory.
Zhang Weili (25-3-0) also prevailed in a title bout, holding on to her women's strawweight belt with a win over Yan Xiaonan (18-4-0). Weili came out on top via unanimous decision, taking the cards 49-45, 49-45, 49-45.
In other action, Max Holloway (26-7-0) and Arman Tsarukyan (22-3-0) took their lightweight fights, while Bo Nickal (6-0-0) was victorious in middleweight action.
American great Serena Williams will face Australian 20-year-old Maya Joint in the first round of her eagerly awaited return to Wimbledon, a potentially tricky tie for the seven-time champion playing at the tournament for the first time since 2022.
Australia booked their spot in the knockout rounds of the World Cup on Thursday after a cagey draw against Paraguay, who are set to qualify as a third-placed finisher, while Turkey beat USA 3-2, scoring the winner with virtually the last kick of the match.
The Netherlands scored two goals in the first seven minutes of the first half en route to a 3-1 victory over Tunisia on Thursday night in Kansas City in Group F, while Japan and Sweden drew 1-1 in Texas.
Ecuador coach Sebastian Beccacece said all Ecuadoreans have a lot to celebrate on Thursday after the country's biggest World Cup result ever, coming from behind to beat Germany 2-1 and advance to the knockout stage.
New Zealand took control of the third Test at Trent Bridge with Tom Latham and Devon Conway setting a record partnership for the Kiwis against England on Thursday.