The electricity in mixed martial artists may be ideally represented by Jiri Prochazka. After nearly 17 months away from the stage, “BJP” will make his comeback by battling against Alex Pereira for the vacant Ultimate Fighting Championship light heavyweight title. This face-off is the highlight of UFC 295, set to take place this Saturday at Madison Square Garden in New York. Prochazka, at the age of 31, will step into the Octagon riding a 13-fight winning streak. Out of his total record of 29 wins, 3 losses, and 1 draw, he impressively secured 28 wins either by knockout, technical knockout or submission, with 23 of them achieved within one round only.
In the preparation leading up to this clash with Pereira at 205 pounds, it’s worth noting the key rivalries that played a significant role in shaping Prochazka’s career. A cornerstone match was his encounter with Bojan Velickovic at the headliner of Supreme Fighting Championship 1 on Dec. 9, 2012 in Belgrade, Serbia. Following his initial impressive streak of 4 consecutive finishes, Prochazka was stopped in his tracks by Velickovic, who skillfully employed straight punches, take-downs and ground-and-pound tactics. Despite the setback, it was a transformative moment for Prochazka, who consistently brings ferocity and natural aggression to his fights.
Thereafter, Prochazka’s triumph in the Rizin Fighting Federation light heavyweight grand prix semifinals over Vadim Nemkov, a future Bellator MMA champion, was a defining success. Another pivotal rival was Muhammed Lawal. After their initial encounter, Prochazka sought a rematch and ultimately secured the inaugural Rizin Fighting Federation light heavyweight championship, defeating Lawal through a relentless onslaught of punches.
The cherry on the top of Prochazka’s career thus far is his victory over Glover Teixeira. They competed in the UFC 275 main event staged on June 12, 2022, at the Singapore Indoor Stadium. Despite an intense back-and-forth battle over four-plus rounds and sustaining significant injuries, Prochazka emerged victorious. He bested the revered Brazilian competitor using a no-hooks rear-naked choke, thereby claiming the undisputed Ultimate Fighting Championship light heavyweight title. Thus, with a storied career under his belt, Prochazka’s forthcoming match promises to be electrifying.