Former two-division Glory kickboxing champion and former UFC Middleweight king Alex Pereira clashes with former UFC Light heavyweight champion Jiri Procházka in the main event of UFC 295 for the UFC Light heavyweight crown. Alex Pereira seeks to make history as a double-weight champion in Kickboxing and MMA. The pair of streaking and fightings who have enjoyed a meteoric career in the UFC will headline UFC 295 at Madison Square Garden and contest for the 205-pound gold vacated by Jamahal Hill after rupturing his Achilles. Hill picked up the title after Jiri Procházka vacated it following a severe shoulder injury. Alex Pereira is a slight favorite in early odds.
MMA: UFC Light Heavyweight Championship
Venue: Madison Square Garden, NY
Where to watch: ESPN+ PPV
Date: 12.11.2023. 08.15
Jiri Procházka
Debuting in the UFC in 2020 and competing only three times since then, Jiri Procházka’s meteoric rise in the promotion sees him now ranked as the number one Light heavyweight fighter and number fourteen men’s pound-for-pound. The Czech fighter, who was the inaugural Rizin FF Light heavyweight champion, submitted Glover Teixeira in Singapore last year to win the 205-pound gold. That victory marked his third fight in the promotion and third finish, earlier stopping Volkan Oezdemir and Dominick Reyes by knockout. The 31-year-old later vacated the title due to injury without making a defense.
Tale of the Tape
- Age: 31
- Height: 6’ 4”
- Reach: 80”
- Weight: 205 Ibs
- Record: 29-3-1 (Draw)
Alex Pereira
The former Glory Kickboxing Middleweight and Light Heavyweight champion debuted in the UFC in November 2021. Alex Pereira finished Israel Adesanya to win the Middleweight strap one year later. After losing the rematch, Alex Pereira moved up to Light Heavyweight in aid to recreate his two-division Kickboxing feat in MMA. A veteran and experienced Kickboxer with over forty kickboxing bouts, “Poatan” transitioned to MMA in 2015. His UFC resume includes victories over Sean Strickland, the current Middleweight champion, Israel Adesanya, and Jan Blachowicz, former UFC Light heavyweight champ. The Brazilian striker has six knockouts from eight victories and is trained by former Light Heavyweight champion Glover Teixeira.
Tale of the Tape
- Age: 36
- Height: 6’ 4”
- Reach: 79”
- Weight: 205 Ibs
- Record: 8-2
Betting Odds
Alex Pereira is a 1.80 favorite on Bet365, with the underdog available at 2.00 odds on the sportsbook. Total over 2.5 is priced at 2.25 odds on 1XBET with the under available at 1.6. Jiri Procházka by KO/TKO is 2.7 odds on Betwinner while “Poatan” by KO/TKO is 2.3.
