A kickboxing maestro produced the best knockout at UFC 276 when he separated an American fighter from his senses

• Alex Pereira — remember the name!
• The kickboxing maestro is on the cusp of a UFC middleweight title shot after a blistering performance.
• See the devastating effect of his strikes as he iced Sean Strickland with ease Saturday at UFC 276.

LAS VEGAS — Alex Pereira — take a bow!

The kickboxing maestro produced the knockout of the night Saturday when he separated his UFC middleweight rival Sean Strickland from his senses in the very first round at UFC 276 inside the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

It emphasized the otherworldly power Pereira possesses in his mitts as he didn't just knock Strickland down, he sent him into another dimension.

Strickland did not fight the right fight, though.

The American MMA fighter should never have engaged Pereira in a striking battle. He put himself in positions where he was asking to be hit, and Pereira is the type of guy that will happily oblige.

Any cache Strickland built up in a week in which his media appearances seemed like stand-up comedy routines as he roasted reporters and supporters, was lost in an instant as this was the Pereira show.

And Strickland was just living in it.

A devastating left hook was the beginning of the end of Strickland's night as it wobbled him badly.

Pereira then pounced on him with a predatory right, which sent Strickland to the canvas.

It was all over.

See the devastating effect of Pereira's finish right here:

—ESPN MMA (@espnmma) July 3, 2022

Victory advances Pereira's pro MMA record to six wins (five knockouts and one decision) against one loss by submission.

Despite only competing in seven MMA bouts to date, it, somewhat intriguingly, puts Pereira on a collision course against his old kickboxing rival Israel Adesanya.

The UFC middleweight champion lost twice to Pereira in kickboxing bouts.

A third fight with MMA rules could be on the horizon.