The Brazilian bruiser looked to add the promotion’s light-heavyweight title to his collection one year on from his stunning dethroning of former middleweight champion and long-time rival Israel Adesanya.

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And Poatan did just that with a vicious second-round stoppage over the pride of the Czech Republic in the main event of UFC 295.

Victory over the returning Prochazka, who was fighting for the first time in 17 months, saw Pereira break Randy Couture’s 20-year-old record and win a second title in the promotion in just his SEVENTH octagon outing.

Both men were cautious early in the first as they looked to get reads on one another as the crowd wooed.

Pereira, 36, invested in the low calf kick well several times and dropped the former 205lbs champ with a scything blow after eating an uppercut.

Prochazka’s movement didn’t seem to be too compromised as he looked to secure a takedown.

He briefly had his head trapped in a guillotine but managed to transition into a big takedown and transition into half guard.

Pereira eventually got back to his feet before the horn, much to the delight of the crowd.

Prochazka returned the calf kick favour early in the second but Pereira was unmoved by the strike.

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Unmoved was something Prochazka wasn’t when Pereira landed a stiff one-two flush on his chin.

Poatan soon found himself on the back of the fence avoiding unorthodox flurry after unorthodox flurry from ‘Denisa’ after landing yet another calf kick.

A confident Prochazka soon had his chin checked by a nasty left hook and was badly hurt, so much so he shot in for a takedown.

Pereira landed a mix of elbows and punches in tight before Prochazka fell to his back.

And referee Marc Goddard decided he’d seen enough, much to the frustration of MMA fans around the world.

One wrote on X: “I think it’s time we all agree that Marc Goddard needs to stop reffing championship fights. stopped too early.”

Another said: “WHAT ON THE EARTH MARC GODDARD IS DOING?!?!?!?!?!”

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And another said: “That is early as f**k Marc Goddard. What were you seeing, brother?”

One remarked: “Felt like a terrible stoppage from Marc Goddard. Way too early.”

Another chimed in: “Think Marc Goddard effed that up…”

Men’s bantamweight contender Merab Dvalishvili wrote: “BULLS**T EARLY STOPPAGE!!! MARC GODDARD DOES IT AGAIN!!!”

Prochazka, however, didn’t seemingly mind the stoppage, saying: “I think, in that end, it was right. I was out.

“But I will never stop, I will never stop.

“If I will die, my body will still work. So s**t happens. It doesn’t matter.”