Jiri Prochazka
Denisa
Czech Republic
Crushing loss in title fight
Prochazka came up short in his quest for the UFC Light Heavyweight Championship on Saturday, falling to Carlos Ulberg via KO (punches) at 3:45 of Round 1 at UFC 327 in Miami.
ANALYSIS
You're going to be hearing about this one for a long time and not in a positive way for Prochazka. Jiri was struggling early on, absorbing too many low kicks. Yet the fight appeared to be all but over after Ulberg blew his right knee out. He was hobbling around the octagon and it seemed to only be a matter of time before either Prochazka put him away, or the doctor decided he could no longer continue. Instead, Jiri got clipped with a left hook which dropped him to the mat. A few follow-up shots later, he was done for good. It's a missed opportunity for Prochazka which will probably be impossible to overcome. Jiri's entertaining style will keep him relevant, especially in a thin light heavyweight division, but at age 33 and a ton of MMA miles on his body, this may have been his last chance to fight for UFC gold.
You're going to be hearing about this one for a long time and not in a positive way for Prochazka. Jiri was struggling early on, absorbing too many low kicks. Yet the fight appeared to be all but over after Ulberg blew his right knee out. He was hobbling around the octagon and it seemed to only be a matter of time before either Prochazka put him away, or the doctor decided he could no longer continue. Instead, Jiri got clipped with a left hook which dropped him to the mat. A few follow-up shots later, he was done for good. It's a missed opportunity for Prochazka which will probably be impossible to overcome. Jiri's entertaining style will keep him relevant, especially in a thin light heavyweight division, but at age 33 and a ton of MMA miles on his body, this may have been his last chance to fight for UFC gold.
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Fighting Ulberg next
Prochazka will fight Carlos Ulberg at UFC 327 on April 11 for the UFC Light Heavyweight Championship, Marcel Dorff of Eurosport.nl reports.
ANALYSIS
After notching a comeback victory over Khalil Rountree in October, Prochazka will now aim to extend his winning streak to three and claim the vacant light heavyweight title in the process. He'll have a three-inch reach advantage over Ulberg, though the latter has not lost a UFC bout in nearly five years.
After notching a comeback victory over Khalil Rountree in October, Prochazka will now aim to extend his winning streak to three and claim the vacant light heavyweight title in the process. He'll have a three-inch reach advantage over Ulberg, though the latter has not lost a UFC bout in nearly five years.
Storms back for massive victory
Prochazka defeated Khalil Rountree via KO (punches) at 3:04 of Round 3 at UFC 320 on Saturday in Las Vegas.
ANALYSIS
On the whole, this was probably Prochazka's worst performance in quite some time. For two rounds, he could get nothing going. He looked lethargic, was undisciplined defensively and seemed to be struggling with his both his legs. Then, at the start of Round 3, clearly down 20-18, Jiri simply made it one of the wild brawls we are accustomed to seeing with him, and he found himself victorious shortly thereafter. The significant strikes in the final frame were 47-27 in Prochazka's favor. Through two rounds, it was 39-24 in favor of Rountree. Jiri will be 33 years of age shortly and is just 3-2 in his past five fights, but he's must-see TV every single time he steps into the Octagon and still firmly finds himself in title contention at 205 pounds. This will also go down as one of the most financially lucrative nights of Prochazka's career, as he was awarded two post-fight bonuses -- $50,000 for Performance of the Night, and another $50,000 for Fight of the Night. That gives him eight total bonuses in eight appearances with the company.
On the whole, this was probably Prochazka's worst performance in quite some time. For two rounds, he could get nothing going. He looked lethargic, was undisciplined defensively and seemed to be struggling with his both his legs. Then, at the start of Round 3, clearly down 20-18, Jiri simply made it one of the wild brawls we are accustomed to seeing with him, and he found himself victorious shortly thereafter. The significant strikes in the final frame were 47-27 in Prochazka's favor. Through two rounds, it was 39-24 in favor of Rountree. Jiri will be 33 years of age shortly and is just 3-2 in his past five fights, but he's must-see TV every single time he steps into the Octagon and still firmly finds himself in title contention at 205 pounds. This will also go down as one of the most financially lucrative nights of Prochazka's career, as he was awarded two post-fight bonuses -- $50,000 for Performance of the Night, and another $50,000 for Fight of the Night. That gives him eight total bonuses in eight appearances with the company.
Fighting Rountree in October
Prochazka will fight Khalil Rountree at UFC 320 on Oct. 4, according to UFC President Dana White (via Instagram Live).
ANALYSIS
Prochazka will look to stay winning after a solid bounce-back TKO over Jamahal Hill in January, following a title loss to Alex Pereira last summer. The 6-foot-4 light heavyweight will take on another veteran fighter in Rountree, who also is coming off a win over Hill. Prochazka and Rountree both are entering October with much to prove as older fighters, which should make for an entertaining watch with lots of swinging.
Prochazka will look to stay winning after a solid bounce-back TKO over Jamahal Hill in January, following a title loss to Alex Pereira last summer. The 6-foot-4 light heavyweight will take on another veteran fighter in Rountree, who also is coming off a win over Hill. Prochazka and Rountree both are entering October with much to prove as older fighters, which should make for an entertaining watch with lots of swinging.
Takes war from Jamahal Hill
Prochazka defeated Jamahal Hill via TKO (punches) at 3:01 of Round 3 at UFC 311 on Saturday in Los Angeles.
ANALYSIS
Fans that came for an all-out war between these two got what they paid for. Prochazka was predictably content with engaging in a wild brawl and letting the chips fall where they may. Jiri definitely landed the biggest blows of the fight, picking up a knockdown in both Rounds 1 and 3. The bout would have ended much sooner if not for the ridiculous toughness of Hill. Still, Jiri managed to put him away and earn a $50,000 Performance of the Night bonus to boot. Now 32 years of age, Prochazka's future is entirely tied to how his durability holds up. He has supreme confidence in his hands and has to eat a ton of shots in order to get to his power offense. It's worth noting that Jiri has fought the current UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Alex Pereira on two different occasions and was finished via second-round knockout both times.
Fans that came for an all-out war between these two got what they paid for. Prochazka was predictably content with engaging in a wild brawl and letting the chips fall where they may. Jiri definitely landed the biggest blows of the fight, picking up a knockdown in both Rounds 1 and 3. The bout would have ended much sooner if not for the ridiculous toughness of Hill. Still, Jiri managed to put him away and earn a $50,000 Performance of the Night bonus to boot. Now 32 years of age, Prochazka's future is entirely tied to how his durability holds up. He has supreme confidence in his hands and has to eat a ton of shots in order to get to his power offense. It's worth noting that Jiri has fought the current UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Alex Pereira on two different occasions and was finished via second-round knockout both times.
Fighting at UFC 311
Prochazka will fight Jamahal Hill at UFC 311 on Jan. 18, Marcel Dorff of Eurosport.nl reports.
ANALYSIS
Prochazka lost to Alex Pereira for the second time in June, giving him a 4-2 record in the UFC. Hill will also be coming off a loss to Pereira in his most recent fight, so both fighters will be eager to get back on track in January.
Prochazka lost to Alex Pereira for the second time in June, giving him a 4-2 record in the UFC. Hill will also be coming off a loss to Pereira in his most recent fight, so both fighters will be eager to get back on track in January.