The Team Oyama standout posted his first win in 1,421 days and did so with some pizzaz, as he steadied himself within the Ultimate Fighting Championship flyweight division with a sensational one-punch knockout of Matheus Nicolau in the UFC on ESPN 55 headliner on Saturday at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. A short-notice substitution for Manel Kape, Perez (25-8, 7-4 UFC) folded the Brazilian 2:16 into Round 2.
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Nicolau (19-4-1, 7-3 UFC) was content to circle on the outside and unleashed an occasional lightning-quick counter. Perez preyed on his lack of aggression, stayed busy, chipped away with leg kicks and probed for openings with active hands. He pressured Nicolau backward midway through the second round and walked him into a crushing right hook. The Nova Uniao product hit the deck where he stood, necessitating an immediate stoppage.The victory closed the book on Perez’s three-fight losing streak.
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