Former UFC light heavyweight champion Jiri Prochazka stands out as one of the most electrifying athletes in the UFC roster. His distinctive style propelled him to stardom, earning him a title shot with a mere two UFC victories under his belt.
Seizing the opportunity, Prochazka ended up winning the gold. However, his encounter with former title contender Dominick Reyes at UFC Vegas 25 was a perilously close call for the Czech competitor.
In the five-round main event, Prochazka executed a jaw-dropping spinning back elbow that rendered Reyes unconscious in the second round. The match was a tumultuous affair, with both competitors delivering potentially strong blows.
In a remarkable turn of events, Reyes unleashed a devastating upkick on Prochazka which momentarily incapacitated him. Despite being harmed, Prochazka showed remarkable mental fortitude and was able to stop the activity until he was recovered.
Jiri Prochazka hilariously admits that he was out for a couple seconds after Dominick Reyes hit him with a clean upkick 😮💨😂 pic.twitter.com/qeNG4R1eN0
— • 𝒮𝓀𝓎𝓁𝑜! (@YT_SKYLO1) October 5, 2023
Reflecting on that pivotal moment, he shared in an interview: “The kick from the ground to my head. That was a knockout but nobody knows that. I was, for one or two seconds, out! I was out! I was just trying to [lie on his body] just to take one, two, three seconds to take a breath…”
Jiri Prochazka’s journey continued as he secured the UFC light heavyweight crown in his ensuing bout against Glover Teixeira. Regrettably, he had to relinquish the title due to a severe shoulder injury. During his absence, Jamahal Hill ended up taking the title only to face a fate similar to Prochazka’s.
Former kickboxing world champion and UFC middleweight titleholder Alex Pereira recently made a triumphant foray into the light heavyweight division. He secured a win over former champion Jan Blachowicz.
Now, the stage is set for a clash of titans as Prochazka and Pereira compete for the vacant light heavyweight title in the co-main event of UFC 295. The event is scheduled for November 11, 2023, at the Madison Square Garden in New York. It will be headlined by a heavyweight title showdown between reigning champion Jon Jones and the two-time titleholder Stipe Miocic.