Procházka rallies to KO Rountree as Pereira regains 205-pound title

Jiří Procházka rallied from two lost rounds to knockout Khalil Rountree Jr. in the third round at UFC 320 on Saturday at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, a comeback that revived his standing in the light heavyweight division and coincided with a title-changing main event that complicated the path forward. Alex Pereira reclaimed the 205-pound title with a first-round stoppage of Magomed Ankalaev, and Procházka, watching cageside, became visibly emotional as the Brazilian champion’s victory raised the prospect of a third meeting between two fighters who have already faced each other twice.

Procházka’s bout with Rountree unfolded as a classic momentum swing. Rountree appeared to control the early action and won the opening two rounds on the judges’ cards, but Procházka shifted tactics in the final stanza, pressing forward with increased pressure and unorthodox strikes before finishing Rountree by knockout at 3:04 of round three. The performance earned Procházka two postfight bonuses, $50,000 each for Performance of the Night and Fight of the Night, while Rountree also received a $50,000 bonus.

Sitting ringside for the main event, Procházka reacted emotionally as Pereira stopped...