Former light heavyweight champions Jiri Prochazka and Jamahal Hill had been on a collision course for years prior to UFC 311, where they finally faced off in Los Angeles on Saturday.
A previous pairing had fallen through due to injury, but with both men losing to 205lb champ Alex Pereira in 2024, there was no time like the present to boost one man back into the mix.
Prochazka started the fight switching stances. Hill was landing clean shots, in combination to start the fight. With two minutes to go in round one, Prochazka landing a crushing straight left as Hill loaded up a lead uppercut, sending Hill to the canvas. Hill was able to recover, but was telegraphing his punches and loading up. Hill was breathing heavy, and bleeding out of his nose to end the first round. A potential broken nose.
Prochazka was looking for a head kick early in round two. Hill was using hooks to bring Porchazka’s head forward, attempting to land uppercuts and knees. Both fighters were searching for the knockout, and leaving themselves open for the other fighter’s strikes. Hill overextended his fingers and very deeply poked Prochazka in the eye. Other than the aforementioned poke, Hill was having a much better second round. He was beginning to find his reads, and landed a heavy left hand to the liver of Prochazka, which very clearly bothered Prochazka.
Prochazka landed a heavy counter shot which put Hill on skates in the third. Jamahal Hill regained composure and reminded Prochazka of the power coming his way. Jiri Prochazka landed a missile of a counter right hand later in the round, dropping Hill, and after another flurry, Hill crumbled back down to the canvas. That was all she wrote. Hill struggled to get on the stool after the stoppage.
Jiri Prochazka will certainly have his eyes on the upcoming Alex Pereira and Magomed Ankalaev fight at UFC 313. Meanwhile, it will be back to the drawing board for Jamahal Hill.
Official Result: Jiri Prochazka def. Jamahal Hill by TKO (punches), Round 3, 3:01
