Prochazka announces himself as light-heavyweight contender
The UFC’s light-heavyweight division has a new contender on the rise, with Jiri Prochazka racking up a 12th straight career MMA win by taking down Dominick Reyes in the main event at the APEX Facility in Las Vegas.
The 28-year-old Czech fighter moved to a career record of 28-3 (with 25 wins via KO/TKO) after he knocked out Reyes deep into the second round of their bout with a spectacular spinning back elbow.
Prochazka dominated with his striking throughout and allowed Reyes only one glimpse of hope in the second round, with the American able to land a takedown and lock in a guillotine hold, but the former Rizin light-heavyweight champion popped his head free and assumed top position.
Once both men were back to their feet, Prochazka went over the top with a right elbow before spinning with his left elbow, a shot that connected clean and sent Reyes face-first to the canvas.
Prochazka admitted after the fight that he still has plenty to learn: “I just want to show the beauty of the art, but sometimes I go very quickly for the win,” he explained. “(As a result of ) that, I catch some punches. Mistakes still, but I’m learning from fight to fight.”
On his elbow finish, he added, “I just flow. After some counter punches from Dominick, I have no chance to think. I just was in the flow.”
The Czech must now be considered one of the up-and-coming contenders for the light-heavyweight championship, though title holder Jan Blachowicz is first expected to defend against Glover Teixeira at UFC 266 in September of this year.
The remainder of the main card featured Giga Chikadze making quick work of Cub Swanson in the featherweight division; Ion Cutelaba and Dustin Jacoby fought to a draw in their light heavyweight match; Sean Strickland defeated Krzysztof Jotko via unanimous decision in the middleweight division, and the opener saw Merab Dvalishvili overcome fellow bantamweight Cody Stamann via unanimous decision.
The next UFC event is a Fight Night from the APEX Facility in Las Vegas on the morning of Sunday 9 May, expected to be headlined by a women’s strawweight bout between former Invicta FC Atomweight Champion Michelle Waterson and Marina Rodriguez.