MMA Junkie analyst Dan Tom goes in depth to interrupt down the most important fights within the UFC. As we speak, he takes a more in-depth take a look at the UFC 303 foremost occasion between gentle heavyweight champion Alex Pereira and Jiri Prochazka, which got here collectively on simply two weeks’ discover.
Alex Pereira UFC 303 preview
Staple data:
- Document: 10-2 MMA, 7-1 UFC
- Top: 6’4″ Age: 36 Weight: 205 lbs. Attain: 79″
- Final battle: Knockout win over Jamahal Hill (April 13, 2024)
- Camp: Teixeira MMA/Glover’s Storage (Danbury, Conn.)
- Stance/putting type: Orthodox/kickboxing
- Danger administration: Good
Supplemental data:
+ UFC gentle heavyweight champion
+ Former UFC middleweight champion
+ 5x Glory middleweight champion
+ Glory gentle heavyweight title
+ Professional kickboxing report: 33-7 (21 wins by KO)
+ Newbie kickboxing report: 25-3
+ Brazilian jiiu-jitsu brown belt
+ 8 KO victories
+ 4 first-round finishes
+ Knockout energy
^ Very good proprioception and accuracy
+ Devastating left hook and proper cross
^ Occasions splits and counters effectively
+ Harmful knees and leg kicks
+ Sturdy contained in the clinch
^ Underhooks, overhooks and separations
+ Exhibits improved grappling recreation
+/- 0-1 in MMA rematches (3-3 in kickboxing rematches)
Jiri Prochazka UFC 303 preview
Staple data:
- Document: 30-4-1 MMA, 4-1 UFC
- Top: 6’3″ Age: 31 Weight: 205 lbs. Attain: 80″
- Final battle: TKO win over Aleksandar Rakic (April 13, 2024)
- Camp: Jetsaam Fitness center BRNO (Czech Republic)
- Stance/putting type: Change-stance/muay Thai
- Danger administration: Honest
Supplemental data:
+ Former UFC gentle heavyweight champion
+ 2x RIZIN FF gentle heavyweight champion
+ 2x GFC gentle heavyweight champion
+ Newbie muay Thai accolades
+ 26 KO victories
+ 3 submission wins
+ 23 first-round finishes
+ Knockout energy
+ Aggressive tempo and strain
+ Sporadic feints and footwork
^ Shifts stances/misleading distance nearer
+ Correct proper hand
^ Coming ahead and off the counter
+ Exhausting kicks and knees
+ Serviceable grappling capability
^ Scrambles laborious off the underside
+/- Prepared to take injury
+/- 1-0 in MMA rematches
Alex Pereira vs. Jiri Prochazka focal point: Placing the second time round
With Conor McGregor falling out of the principle occasion, the UFC was compelled to scramble and, as soon as once more, go to the rematch with this second reserving between Pereira and Prochazka.
Their first battle was a aggressive affair that went down in November of final 12 months. Regardless of all three judges giving the primary spherical to Prochazka, Pereira was in a position to compromise his opponent’s legs with kicks that might’ve simply swung the spherical his approach.
That stated, Prochazka did effectively when it got here to incorporating level-changing threats to assist open up his offensive alternatives on the ft.
Whether or not it was Prochazka’s patent proper hand or a winging uppercut off a faux takedown try, the previous gentle heavyweight champion discovered some success feinting and coming ahead with this dynamic at play (versus the same old lengthy karate-style frames and chakra-charging poses he depends on).
Nonetheless, this strategy didn’t change the truth that Prochazka’s aggression comes with a severe price ticket in tow.
After getting again to his ft and the tip of the primary body, Pereira was finally in a position to get a beat on stated aggressive advances and swatted Prochazka out of the proverbial sky along with his legendary left hook.
Prochazka appeared to fall onto a determined single leg in an effort to get well, however follow-up elbows from Pereira briefly separated him from his consciousness, prompting the referee to name an finish to the bout.
Alex Pereira vs. Jiri Prochazka breakdown: Potential grappling threats
With a lot being made about Prochazka’s potential grappling upside each pre and post-fight, many shall be curious to see what occurs if this contest returns to that realm.
As acknowledged in my earlier breakdown of this battle, Prochazka has made some regular enhancements to his wrestling lately.
Although many of the stated work has usually proven up within the scrambling or protection division, Prochazka did present some offensive savvy when taking down Pereira final November.
Whether or not Prochazka meant to or not, he was in a position to make “Poatan” pay for his behavior of threatening guillotines to defend takedowns by making him a proposal he couldn’t refuse through a head-outside single look. As soon as in a position to get Pereira to commit, Prochazka was in a position to get his elevate and clear his hips simply sufficient to remain out of hazard.
Nevertheless, regardless of getting off some respectable photographs from topside, Prochazka was unable to carry Pereira down for lengthy.
Using his patent overhook with an help from the fence, Pereira was in a position to wall-walk himself again to his ft and discover a separation. Nonetheless, I wouldn’t low cost Prochazka going again to the effectively with extra takedowns this Saturday contemplating {that a} extra grueling affair arguably favors him on paper.
Alex Pereira vs. Jiri Prochazka odds:
The oddsmakers and the general public are barely favoring the sitting champion, itemizing Pereira -142 and Prochazka +112 through FanDuel.
Alex Pereira vs. Jiri Prochazka prediction, choose
Whether or not these two are assembly up in a darkish alley or off of a full battle camp, it’s laborious to argue that both social gathering must be closely favored from a betting perspective. That stated, I agree with Pereira being the odds-on favourite.
Brief-notice intangibles apart, the dynamic of this battle largely stays the identical contemplating the character of Prochazka.
Though Prochazka has a penchant for locating spectacular knockouts, his victories often include comeback caveats connected as a result of injury his porous protection permits him to take. And in opposition to a fighter like Pereira, taking that a lot injury is way from advisable.
For that purpose, I’ll be siding with “Poatan” once more.
Regardless of not having probably the most spectacular rematch report on paper (3-3 in kickboxing and 0-1 in MMA), Pereira has proven to come back into rematches well-prepared for the opponent at hand. In reality, for those who return to rewatch his rematches in kickboxing, there are robust arguments that a few of these might’ve been scored the opposite approach.
Furthermore, Prochazka has not appeared to regulate a lot since their final assembly – exhibiting that he nonetheless has big vulnerabilities on the subject of defending his legs.
Seeing Prochazka rating an upset knockout wouldn’t be the craziest factor on this planet, however I’ll choose Pereira to come back out on prime of the gunfight through a first-round end.
Prediction: Pereira inside the space
Alex Pereira vs. Jiri Prochazka begin time, the place to look at
Pereira and Prochazka are anticipated to make their walks to the octagon at roughly 12:15 a.m. ET (9:15 p.m. domestically in Las Vegas). The battle streams on ESPN+ pay-per-view.
For extra on the cardboard, go to MMA Junkie’s occasion hub for UFC 303.
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