The returning Jiri Prochazka will be looking to reclaim gold as he takes on former middleweight champion Alex Pereira who looks to avenge his mentor and triumph again in Madison Square Garden at UFC 295.
Looking to regain the LHW throne Saturday night 🏆@Jiri_BJP will make the final walk of the night at #UFC295 pic.twitter.com/Av4ShOmpEU
— UFC (@ufc) November 8, 2023
The last time we saw Jiri Prochazka, he had just recorded a seminal triumph to win the light-heavyweight title. After a back-and-forth war for the ages, Prochazka finally outlasted champion Glover Teixeira to secure a fifth round submission; a result most specifically did not expect from him. In doing so, Prochazka completed his journey from regional shows in the Czech Republic, to claiming gold in Japan under the RIZIN banner, to finally winning the UFC title in just his third bout inside the Octagon. If the western audience was unfamiliar with him, then he quickly became the new favorite fighter of many fans as they found his resume not only included Teixeira but also the likes of former title challengers Dominick Reyes, Volkan Oezdemir, reigning Bellator champion Vadim Nemkov, and more.
Misfortune would ruin his plans as a shoulder injury that UFC President Dana White said was the “worst (UFC) doctors had ever seen” pulled him from his first title defense, sidelined him for eleven months and lead him to vacate the belt. While Prochazka was hopeful for a quick return, the hope of the public is that the extended layoff has allowed him to rehabilitate his injury to the point that he will be close to the version we have become familiar with over the past several years. If he is, then he presents an even more deadly challenge for his opponent at UFC 295 on Saturday. If he still remains a ways off that mark, then it could make the fight a much more competitive bout.
The power of Poatan is DIFFERENT 🏹@AlexPereiraUFC is fighting for the Light Heavyweight Title this Saturday at #UFC295 pic.twitter.com/5gVUAZX2Xv
— UFC (@ufc) November 8, 2023
For Alex Pereira, the move up to 205 pounds has presented a fresh landscape ripe with new opportunities. His popularity has skyrocketed since stopping former middleweight champion Israel Adesanya last year. Now at light-heavyweight, he is able to explore and compete without being tied to “The Last Stylebender” at every turn. It was apparent earlier this July as he returned to the win-column with a victory over former champion Jan Blachowicz. It was a key victory in his development as it saw the former kickboxing champion exercise his defensive grappling and test his power against a bigger and stronger opponent than he was used to in MMA.
If there was a knock on Pereira’s performance in July, it was that it appeared his vaunted power did not follow him up to his new weight class. Following stoppages of current champion Sean Strickland and Adesanya, fans began to expect the engine of destruction every time out. While he had moments where he pummeled Blachowicz in July, the touch of death he seemingly possessed at middleweight did not show itself. That could prove to be an important factor; Pereira is not known for being a high volume striker who darts in and out with great speed. If he finds himself in a firefight on Saturday, he will have less of a margin for error if he is to outgun his opponent for the victory.
Intensity at an all time high for this LHW title fight 🏆🗽@Jiri_BJP vs @AlexPereiraUFC#UFC295 | SATURDAY | Live on ESPN+ PPV pic.twitter.com/s7x7EroCXT
— UFC (@ufc) November 10, 2023
The necessities of the UFC schedule will determine what the winner does next. While the ideal situation would be to see the winner fight Jamahal Hill upon his return, “Sweet Dreams” is expected to take as much time as necessary to return in peak form. Should Hill not be ready and the UFC needs the light-heavyweight title to headline a card, then it’s possible the winner fights another top contender such as Magomed Ankalaev or Johnny Walker.
