UFC: Alex Pereira a slight favourite over Jiri Prochazka at UFC 295

The UFC will crown a new light heavyweight champion at UFC 295. Former champ Jamahal Hill relinquished his title earlier this year after rupturing his Achilles tendon. Now the number one and three ranked light heavyweights will fight for the belt. One fighter has a chance to win a UFC title in a second division, he is a former middleweight champion. The other fighter has the chance to become a two-time UFC light heavyweight champion. 

Fight Details 

Alex Pereira and Jiri Prochazka will fight for the vacant light heavyweight title on November 11 at UFC 295 in New York. These are two of the UFC’s top pound-for-pound fighters. Pereira is number 10 on the pound-for-pound rankings. Prochazka is the 15th ranked fighter on the list. Pereira is the betting favourite heading into this fight on UFC betting sites. He has -150 odds to win on Betway. Prochazka is a slight underdog. He has +120 odds to win the fight.

Pereira earned this opportunity by defeating former champion Jan Blanchowicz by split decision at UFC 295 which was his first in the light heavyweight division in the UFC. Pereira moved up in weight after losing the middleweight title to Israel Adesanya. This is Prochazka’s first fight since he won the light heavyweight title at UFC 275 in 2022. He vacated the title after defeating Glover Teixeira because of a shoulder injury. 

Alex “Poatan” Pereira

Alex Pereira is heading into this title fight as the betting favourite despite this being his second fight in the division. In two years since his debut, Pereira has already defeated three fighters in the UFC who have held or currently hold a title: Adesanya, Blanchowicz, and current middleweight champ Sean Strickland. He is 5-1 in the UFC, and the only defeat was a KO/TKO defeat against Adesanya. Pereira’s striking has contributed tremendously to his success in the UFC. He has won all of his fights in the UFC on the feet with his striking.

A big concern is whether or not Pereira’s chin can hold up to Prochazka’s power. Pereira was knocked out by Adesanya, a middleweight. Prochazka’s power has been more than enough to hurt and knock out some of the top light heavyweights in the UFC. Pereira primarily fights on the feet, so Prochazka could knock Pereira out if he lands a clean shot. And although Prochazka has not been stopped in the UFC, he has been hurt by strikes. Pereira might be able to win this fight by KO/TKO if he can be the one who lands a clean shot, but Prochazka has proved that he has a strong chin. A decision victory might be the more likely outcome for Pereira.

Jiri Prochazka

Despite never being defeated for his title, Prochazka is the underdog heading into this fight. This is his first fight since UFC 275 in 2022. He has a 3-0 record in the UFC and has stopped all of his opponents. He has two KO/TKO victories in the UFC and one submission victory. Prochazka, like his opponent, has won the majority of his fights thanks to his striking. None of his opponents in the UFC have been able to get the better of him in the striking department for an entire fight. Texieira was able to hurt Prochazka, and Dominick Reyes landed a few good shots, but Prochazka showed his strong chin in those fights.

Prochazka has a few things going for him in this fight. He is a former champion in the division and has more UFC fights at light heavyweight than Pereira who is new to the division. Prochazka has not fought since 2022, while Pereira was knocked out at UFC 287 in April by Adesanya. He also has a submission victory on his UFC resume. Pereira has only won fights in the UFC by KO/TKO and decision. This fight should be fought mainly on the fight. And if it is, it will be tough to call because both men are good strikers. Prochazka’s chin and power could be the difference in this one.

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