After Conor McGregor pulled out of his scheduled fight against Michael Chandler at UFC 303, the UFC didn’t think twice about booking Alex Pereira vs. Jiri Prochazka as the new main event. The duo had done the same when Jon Jones pulled out of his fight with Stipe Miocic at UFC 295.
Their first meeting inside the Octagon resulted in a second-round TKO victory for the Brazilian. However, the Czech Republican had rebounded with a Performance of the Night winning victory over Aleksandar Rakic at UFC 300, setting the stage for an anticipated rematch.
Prochazka’s Risky Approach Plays into Pereira’s Strengths
After their first encounter at UFC 295, Pereira headlined UFC 300 against Jamahal Hill, knocking out the former champion in the first round. The Brazilian’s post-fight celebration went viral on social media. Pereira had an injured toe going into the fight, making the victory even more impressive. He also injured another toe during the battle against Hill.
Also at UFC 300, Prochazka showcased the heart of a champion in his fight in the prelims against Rakic. After accumulating a lot of damage, Prochazka wilted Rakic with his pressure and daredevil fighting style, ultimately securing a second-round TKO. After the victory, he expressed interest in a rematch against Glory Kickboxing Hall of Famer.
Though reckless, Prochazka showcased good fight IQ as he grappled with Pereira at UFC 295 rather than his usual reckless striking. When he chose to rush in, Pereira caught him with a left hook and finished him off with elbows. Another fault was his inability to defend the Brazilian’s leg kicks.
Nicknamed “Poatan,” which translates to stone hands, left hook, and leg kicks, have been the bread and butter for Alex Pereira. Even after fighting Pereira, the Czech Republican showed defensive vulnerabilities in his fight against Rakic. On the other hand, Pereira has shown significant improvement in defensive grappling, fight after fight.
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It’s safe to say Pereira will repeat what he did at UFC 295 at UFC 303. Betting odds also favor Pereira to retain the title. The only things that can change the outcome are Prochazka becoming a Dagestani wrestler or Pereira injuring his toe during the fight.
Official Prediction: Alex Pereria via second-round TKO.
Also Read Robert Whittaker Previews Jiri Prochazka vs. Alex Pereira UFC 303 Main Event
