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Exclusive – Luke Thomas Believes Jiri Prochazka’s ‘Reckless’ style may catch up to him at UFC 295

Renowned MMA journalist Luke Thomas believes Jiri Prochazka’s signature recklessness could lead to his defeat inside Madison Square Garden….

Renowned MMA journalist Luke Thomas believes Jiri Prochazka’s signature recklessness could lead to his defeat inside Madison Square Garden.

‘Denisa’ returns to the Octagon nearly 18 months removed from his Fight of the Year contender with Glover Teixeira. That was the last time fans had the chance to see Prochazka in action after the heavy hitter suffered a devastating shoulder injury, forcing him to relinquish the light heavyweight title.

UFC 295 will see Prochazka come back to reclaim the title he never lost, but his toughest test to date will be standing in his way.

In the time that Prochazka has been shelved, Alex Pereira has been on an absolute tear, earning knockouts against Sean Strickland and Israel Adesanya in back-to-back fights and claiming the middleweight title. He has since made the move from 185 to 205, scoring a win over former titleholder Jan Blachowicz. His split-decision victory against the Polish powerhouse earned him the opportunity to capture his second UFC title in less than a year.

Speaking with LowKick MMA in an exclusive interview, Luke Thomas of Morning Kombat believes that Prochazka could leave NYC with the gold once again wrapped around his waist, but admits that ‘Denisa’ will have a lot of things working against him come fight night.

“You’ve got a guy coming off a devastating injury, a terrible long layoff, and he fights reckless as sh*t,” Thomas said. “It’s gonna be hard to have him as a huge favorite. I mean, if people think he’s going to win, I don’t think that’s in any way crazy. That’s not. It’s not some absurd notion or anything because obviously, he became champion and not by accident.

“There are two parts to that story, but Pereira has been active. He has been a champion. I think that he has changed to a much more appropriate weight class which I think is going to help his chin. He is accurate. He is heavy-handed. He is much more judicious with his offense in general.“

Currently, Alex Pereira is listed as a slight favorite roughly 24 hours before UFC 295 kicks off. ‘Poatan’ is a -125 favorite, meaning you have to put $125 on the line to win $100. Prochazka is sitting at +105. A $100 bet on him could bring you a return of $105.

“I can understand why the oddsmakers see it as close, but you would not be surprised if Prochazka goes in there and does something absurd and wins,” Thomas added. “That’s what this guy does, even after a long layoff, but how many times can he get away with being insanely reckless?”

Official – Jiri Prochazka, Alex Pereira successfully make weight for UFC 295 title fight showdown

Former Octagon champions, Jiri Prochazka and Alex Pereira have both successfully made weight for tomorrow’s vacant light heavyweight championship…

Former Octagon champions, Jiri Prochazka and Alex Pereira have both successfully made weight for tomorrow’s vacant light heavyweight championship fight topper at UFC 295 – as the duo look to battle it out for 205 pound supremacy.

Prochazka, a former undisputed light heavyweight titleholder under the banner of the organization, has been sidelined for over 18 months, having most recently landed the undisputed crown with a fifth round rallying submission win over Alex Pereira’s close friend and teammate, Glover Teixeira.

Suffering a catastrophic shoulder injury ahead of a planned light heavyweight title fight rematch with Teixeira last December, the Czech Republic native will make his return to competition this weekend in ‘The Big Apple’.

First half of the main event is weighed and ready! @AlexPereiraUFC in at 204lbs for his light heavyweight title fight against Jiri Prochazka

Watch LIVE on ESPN+ PPV | #UFC295 pic.twitter.com/mdzvadHgsB

— UFC (@ufc) November 10, 2023

As for Pereira, the Sao Paulo native made his light heavyweight divisional bow back in July at UFC 291 in Salt Lake City, Utah, earning this weekend’s vacant title siege in a close, split decision win over former titleholder, Jan Blachowicz.

The #UFC295 headliner is official! @Jiri_BJP in at 204 for tomorrow’s main event vs Alex Pereira! pic.twitter.com/fCd3dYCyq5

— UFC (@ufc) November 10, 2023

Also featured on the card, surging heavyweight contenders, Sergei Pavlovich and Tom Aspinall feature in a co-main event bracket with interim heavyweight spoils on the line for the victor.

Alex Pereira – Jiri Prochazka make weight for UFC 295 title fight

Successfully making weight for their 205 pound championship tilt at Madison Square Garden, Prochazka weighed in second of the weight, coming in at a comfortable 204.2 pounds for the title fight – while Pereira, who appears to have filled out in his light heavyweight frame, came in at 204 pounds even for the bout.

Below, catch the entire weigh-in results from UFC 295 ahead of a championship doubleheader in New York City.

Main Card:

Light Heavyweight: Jiri Prochazka (204.2lbs) vs. Alex Pereira (204lbs)

Heavyweight: Sergei Pavlovich (259.8lbs) vs. Tom Aspinall (261.6lbs)

Strawweight: Mackenzie Dern (115.6lbs) vs. Jessica Andrade (116lbs)

Lightweight: Matt Frevola (155.6lbs) vs. Benoit Saint Denis (156lbs)

Featherweight: Pat Sabtini (145.8lbs) vs. Diego Lopes (145.4lbs)

Preliminary Card:

Flyweight: Stephen Erceg (125.6lbs) vs. Alessandro Costa (125.4lbs)

Strawweight: Tabatha Ricci (115.4lbs) vs. Loopy Godinez (115lbs)

Lightweight: Mateusz Rebecki (155.8lbs) vs. Roosevelt Roberts

Lightweight: Nazim Sadykhov (155.6lbs) vs. Viacheslav Borschchev (154.8lbs)

Early Preliminary Card:

Lightweight: Jared Gordon (155.6lbs) vs. Mark O. Madsen (154.6lbs)

138lbs Catchweight: John Castaneda vs. Kyung Ho Kang (138lbs)

Flyweight: Kevin Borjas (125.8lbs) vs. Joshua Van (125.8lbs)

Featherweight Dennis Buzkja (145.6lbs) vs. Jamall Emmers

Israel Adesanya claims middleweights should thank him for Alex Pereira’s division move: ‘Get on your knees’

Ahead of UFC 295 tomorrow night, former two-time middleweight champion. Israel Adesanya has claimed division contenders should be thanking…

Ahead of UFC 295 tomorrow night, former two-time middleweight champion. Israel Adesanya has claimed division contenders should be thanking on their knees, for the impending light heavyweight run of Alex Pereira, claiming he more or less forced him out of the division.

Adesanya, a former two-time middleweight champion, most recently headlined UFC 293 back in September in Sydney, Australia, suffering a spectacular upset loss to common-foe, Sean Strickland in a unanimous decision defeat to the newly-minted champion.

The defeat as City Kickboxing staple, Adesanya’s second in a championship fight in the space of the year, having dropped his middleweight crown to Brazilian knockout artist, Pereira last November at Madison Square Garden.

In April of this year, Adesanya avenged his loss to the Sao Paulo striker, with a thunderous second round KO of his own, before Pereira would test light heavyweight waters in July, successfully.

Israel Adesanya claims he made Alex Pereira pursue a light heavyweight move

And according to Adesanya, ahead of Pereira’s title charge against Jiri Prochazka at UFC 295 in ‘The Big Apple’, the former claims middleweight fighters should be thankful to him for Pereira’s 185 pound departure.

“These middleweights can get on their f*cking knees and thank me ‘cause I got this man [Alex Pereira] out of there [middleweight],” Israel Adesanya said on his YouTube channel. “If not, you would have to deal with him over and over and over again, all of you.”

“I doubt any of you would want to f*cking fight this guy. I did four times but I got it done just with one,” Israel Adesanya explained.

Claiming himself that he would remain sidelined since his loss to Strickland until 2027 at the very earliest, Adesanya has since flirted with a return to the Octagon as soon as March of next year, after professional footballing star, Cristiano Ronaldo urged the Nigerian-Kiwi to fight at a UFC Saudi Arabia event next March.

Do you agree with Israel Adesanya’s take on Alex Pereira’s move to 205 pounds

Israel Adesanya picks Jiri Prochazka to beat Alex Pereira in UFC 295 title fight: ‘You can diffuse the bomb’

Failing in his sole attempt land the light heavyweight championship, Israel Adesanya believes multiple-time opponent and long-time rival, Alex…

Failing in his sole attempt land the light heavyweight championship, Israel Adesanya believes multiple-time opponent and long-time rival, Alex Pereira will also fail in his attempt – picking the returning former champion, Jiri Prochazka to “diffuse the bomb” and beat the Brazilian at UFC 295 this weekend.

Adesanya, a former two-time undisputed middleweight champion, headlined UFC 293 back in September most recently, suffering a hugely one-sided unanimous decision loss to challenger, Sean Strickland in Sydney, Australia, dropping his title for the second time in the space of a year.

In November of last year in Madison Square Garden, City Kickboxing staple, Adesanya suffered his first middleweight loss in professional mixed martial arts, as Alex Pereira rallied in their rivalry-rekindling fight to snatch the title with a fifth round standing TKO success.

Israel Adesanya picks Jiri Prochazka over Alex Pereira at UFC 295

And despite stopping the Brazilian back in April via a massive second round knockout in Miami, Florida, Adesanya claims that Pereira – who he donned as a “special human being”, will be bested by the returning Prochazka at UFC 295 in his efforts to land 205 pound spoils.

“I’ll say (Alex) Pereira is a special human being,” Israel Adesanya said on his YouTube channel. “Not just a fighter, a special human being and I’ll say that because I’ve been in there with him many times. A special human being and he’s got a special ability when it comes to putting people to sleep. He can do it to anyone. His story is very impressive. What he’s done in kickboxing, then coming to the UFC and hunting me down, getting hunter and then going up to 205 [pounds] now and looking to claim a second belt.”

“It’s a hard fight for both men, but it’s a hard fight for Jiri (Prochazka) because of that time bomb,” Adesanya explained. “You can diffuse the bomb, that’s the thing. You have to find out how to diffuse the bomb. It’s exciting, but regardless, I’m going with Jiri Prochazka.”

Who wins this weekend at UFC 295: Jiri Prochazka or Alex Pereira?

Video – Jiri Prochazka shares intense face off with Alex Pereira ahead of UFC 295 title fight in New York City

Returning to the Octagon for the first time in 18 months this weekend as he headlines UFC 295, former…

Returning to the Octagon for the first time in 18 months this weekend as he headlines UFC 295, former undisputed light heavyweight champion, Jiri Prochazka shared a usually intense staredown with former middleweight titleholder, Alex Pereira, as the two meet in ‘The Big Apple’ with vacant 205 pound gold on the line.

Prochazka, a former undisputed light heavyweight champion, most recently headlined UFC 275 back in June of last year against Pereira’s close friend and teammate, Glover Teixeira, landing the undisputed light heavyweight crown with a rallying fifth round win over the Brazilian, landing a stunning rear-naked choke – sans hooks to boot.

As for Pereira, the former undisputed middleweight kingpin made his light heavyweight divisional bow under the UFC banner back in July against former champion, Jan Blachowicz, earning his championship tilt in a title-eliminator win over the Pole in a close split decision win on the scorecards.

Himself landing gold a year ago at Madison Square Garden – the same venue as this weekend’s UFC 295 title fight with Czech Republic native, Prochazka, Alex Pereira stopped dominant gold holder and arch-rival, Israel Adesanya with his own rallying win, landing a fifth round standing TKO victory in New York.

Jiri Prochazka fights Alex Pereira this weekend at MSG

And attempting to become a two-weight champion just three years deep into his tenure with the UFC, Pereira appeared at a press conference today on the East Coast – facing off with former Rizin FF champion, Prochazka in an intense staredown between the two light heavyweight finishers.

Also appearing at the presser, heavyweight contenders, Sergei Pavlovich and Tom Aspinall featured on the stage, themselves facing off ahead of their impromptu interim heavyweight title fight – following the withdrawal of pound-for-pound number one and incumbent heavyweight championship holder, Jon Jones.

Who wins this weekend at UFC 295: Jiri Prochazka or Alex Pereira?

Mackenzie Dern Details fallout from her divorce ahead of UFC 295: ‘This whole fight is still paying my ex’

Mackenzie Dern hopes that someday soon, she can look back and see all of the chaos behind her instead…

Mackenzie Dern hopes that someday soon, she can look back and see all of the chaos behind her instead of constantly surrounding her.

Ahead of her clash with Angela Hill in May, news broke that Dern was in the middle of a tumultuous divorce with her ex-husband that also included a custody battle for their daughter. By the time fight night rolled around, her divorce had been finalized, but as anyone who has gone through the process knows, it rarely ends with the paperwork.

“I realized we always have problems,” Dern said during the UFC 295 media day. “Just the pressure. The last one I went through the divorce. The divorce is final but you don’t realize how much aftermath there is to it. Literally, this whole fight is still paying my ex. It’s crazy, I have to get punched in the face and you work so hard and you do all this and you have to like pay that much of something.

“Money’s something, I’ll fight here, I’ll get it, whatever. Winning or losing, everything’s going to be taken care of. I’ll make more [money] and stuff like that but it’s just problems” (h/t MMA Fighting).

Mackenzie Dern talk about thriving in the "chaos," including the fallout from her divorce, her gym closing, and getting a new puppy before #UFC295 pic.twitter.com/ha2VQUgPWp

— MMA Fighting (@MMAFighting) November 8, 2023

Adding to the chaos ahead of her highly anticipated return to the Octagon on Saturday night was the closing of her gym. To compensate, Dern set up a private training facility in her home and spent some time training with former two-division UFC titleholder Henry Cejudo.

“RVCA closed so I basically made my own home gym,” Dern explained. “You just keep investing in your dream and hope that it works. I’m trying to make everything private at home because you’re just very vulnerable when everyone’s seeing your training. I’m a world champion in jiu-jitsu but people see me in the gym and I’m crying, I’m frustrated because I feel I should be better at something. I feel like I should be able to get it and I don’t get it. It’s not working.

“There’s injuries and there’s a ton of stuff that keeps going on and you’re like I just want to be able to train and get better. I don’t know. In the fight it comes out. It all works out.”

Henry Cejudo taught Mackenzie Dern about range pic.twitter.com/AS0syS4w0V

— MMA Mania (@mmamania) November 9, 2023

Mackenzie Dern Refuses to use her personal struggles as an excuse

Slowly becoming a master of the chaos, Mackenzie Dern decided to inject a new dynamic into her home.

“I got a new puppy — I think I even invent more problems, more chaos,” Dern said with a laugh. “I thrive on that, the craziness. The puppy and all these things. Getting used to splitting your daughter half of the time with you, half of the time with the dad and all these things. You’re learning so many new dynamics in your routine.

“My whole life when I was training to be a world champion in jiu-jitsu, my best times of being a world champion was when I had a routine and I had a schedule and you’re able to keep focused. I think that’s why it’s hard to be a mom and try to be a world champion, to be the champion in the UFC because you need to be consistent in your training. When you don’t feel you’re consistent in your day-to-day life, one day is this, one day is that, you’re like I just need to train. You just make it work.”

Dern did make it clear that she was by no means creating excuses for herself, recognizing that other fighters deal with these same personal issues all the time. In fact, her UFC 295 opponent, Jessica Andrade, revealed that she was also going through a divorce ahead of Saturday’s showdown.

“It definitely wasn’t easy but I understand that’s what everyone goes through,” Dern said. “Everyone’s having problems. Everyone has injuries, we’re fighters. I think Jessica, she talked about she had a divorce, too. It’s kind of crazy the fans get to watch us let out all of our stress and everything on another person in a fight but that’s what we’re trained for. That’s what makes the victory more special.”

Mackenzie Dern enters her fight with Andrade alternating wins and losses in her last four bouts. Overall she is 8-3 under the UFC banner and on the cusp of a potential strawweight title opportunity. With a big win over ‘Bate Estaca’ in Madison Square Garden, Dern’s next fight could very well be for UFC gold.