UFC 275: Glover Teixeira vs. Jiri Prochazka Preview, Odds, Prediction

Glover Teixeira and Jiri Prochazka meet in the light heavyweight title bout at the UFC 275. This is the main event of the entire spectacle, which includes one more belt battle between Valentina Shevchenko and Taila Santos.

The Brazilian has 42 years and is nearing the end of his career. He only recently became a champion, this being his first title defense. On the other hand, Prochazka is one of the most dangerous guys in the light heavyweight and a former champion in the Rizin. One of the most powerful punchers in the organization, may we add.

Preview

Glover Teixeira (+160) is once again the underdog. In the fourth consecutive fight. But judging by the history and the results, this goes in Glover’s favor as he won all of those events. The 42-year-old Brazilian is on a six-win streak, beating two former challengers and the champion throughout that run.

At first, he was better than Anthony Smith via KO, following a bloodbath that was supposed to be stopped earlier. After that, Glover beat Thiago Santos, submitting the fellow Brazilian, before doing the same to the champion, Jan Blachowicz, in the second round of the event at the UFC 267. By the way, Teixeira has 33 wins and seven losses in his MMA career, holding victories over Jared Cannonier, Rashad Evans, Ovince Saint Preux, Ion Cutelaba, etc.

He is arguably the best grappler and wrestler in the division, and there aren’t too many guys in the entire UFC who can resist his grip. Once Teixeira gets ahold of the opponent, he ties himself around him like the anaconda and then gradually softens his defense. He has 10 submissions and 18 KO wins, but many of them were, in fact, on the ground.

Jiri Prochazka (-220) has 18 KO wins in the last 19 fights. That is the first thing you see once checking this guy’s bio. That tells us that he is a very powerful hitter, therefore, exciting to watch. And indeed, Prochazka is one of those guys who brings flamboyancy to the octagon, as we often see him delivering one hell of a show.

The former Rizin light heavyweight champion earned his status there after beating Muhammed Lawal. He was already one of the best in the world in the division, and that’s why Dana White wanted to have him in the UFC.

In the opening two bouts, he was more than confident against Volkan Oezdemir and Dominick Reyes, whom he KOd in the second round. The battle against Reyes was superb, and it delivered one of the best finishes of the year once Prochazka ended Reyes with a spinning back elbow.

Prediction

Father Time is against Glover here, and we believe he won’t be able to restrain Prochazka’s furious attacks. The important thing here is that Prochazka has a four-inch reach advantage, which will be a big problem for Glover, who needs to cut down the gap in order to use his wrestling and takedown skills. If by any chance Prochazka gets one clean shot, this bout is over. That is why we believe that the challenger has an edge here and that he is going to win.

Pick: Prochazka wins