Jiri Prochazka and Alex Pereira had one of the most intense staredowns at UFC 295. Even though Pereira won via second-round TKO, many felt Marc Goddard, the referee, stopped the fight prematurely. The Czech Republican will have a chance at redemption at UFC 303.
After Conor McGregor pulled out, the UFC added a new main event for UFC 303: Pereira vs. Prochazka II. Unlike their previous fights at UFC 300, the pair seems to have had a respectable buildup to the battle—a far cry from Pereira vs. Hill and Rakic vs. Prochazka.
Why Prochazka Respects Pereira’s Amazonian Roots
After Pereira defended the light heavyweight title at UFC 300 against Jamahal Hill with a first-round KO, Magomed Ankalaev seemed to be the next challenger. However, a series of events resulted in his rematch with his Czech Republican counterpart, who seemed to have immense respect for the Brazilian.
“He’s a true warrior, a true warrior who lived his way, like his Warrior way. And that’s something what I like on him. That’s all I can say,” said Jiri Prochazka on Alex Pereira during his appearance on Ariel Helwani’s MMA Hour. For Prochazka, who lives by the Samurai Bushido code, Pereira’s staying true to his Amazonian roots seemed impressive.
Nonetheless, Prochazka is a slight betting underdog against Pereira. Moreover, many fighters, including Alexander Volkanovski and Robert Whittaker, have picked Pereira to retain the title at UFC 303 at the T-Mobile Arena. However, Prochazka is oozing with confidence ahead of the title fight.
The former light heavyweight champion is coming off a bonus-winning victory over Aleksandar Rakic. The 31-year-old revealed he had analyzed the 36-year-old Brazilian at UFC 300. Though the battle against Hill ended quickly, Prochazka might have found something he could exploit.
Click on ‘Follow Us’ and get notified of the most viral UFC stories via Google! Follow Us
Also Read: Who Won The First UFC Fight Between Alex Pereira and Jiri Prochazka?
