Alex Pereira v Jiri Prochazka Betting Tips
UFC 303 – T-Mobile Arena, Las Vegas
TV: TNT Sports, Sunday 6am, June 30th
It’s all change at the top of the fight card for UFC 303, but while we’ve lost the Conor McGregor v Michael Chandler matchup, it’s been replaced with an absolute banger, as light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira steps up to put his title on the line on just two weeks’ notice against former champion, and the man he stopped winning the belt, Jiri Prochazka.
It’s a fantastic clash between two of the biggest savages in the UFC’s 205-pound division and fireworks are guaranteed when they go head-to-head in the new main event of UFC 303 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas on June 30.
Ahead of their explosive clash, let’s take a look at three ways the reigning champion can ensure he hears the words, “AND STILL!” on fight night.
When Prochazka dips, Pereira rips
Looking at how they both fight, you couldn’t see two more contrasting striking styles. Both carry fight-ending knockout power, but how they get their KOs are markedly different.
Prochazka bobs, weaves, and uses herky-jerky movement to bamboozle his opponents, then hits them with power. But Pereira is a classic kickboxer. Upright, good fundamentals, economical in his movement, but explosive when he throws. It’s those fundamentals that could be the key for “Poatan” on fight night.
While Prochazka is bobbing and weaving, he’s not just confusing his opponents, he’s also putting himself off balance. And, if Pereira can time it and connect at the right point in the Czech’s movements, he can spark him out with one shot.
We’ve already seen that Pereira has the power to hurt, and finish, Prochazka. And now he has the benefit of having spent time in the cage with him. And, given how unusual Prochazka’s movements are, that time is worth its weight in gold.
If Pereira can read Prochazka’s dipping and weaving and catch him clean while he’s off balance and unable to ride the shot, it could be all over in the blink of an eye.
Work the body and grind him down
That difference in movement can also play into a longer game plan for Pereira. If he’s unable to find that kill shot during the contest, he can use his economy of movement to pace himself effectively and land clean on the Czech challenger.
Pereira has a vast array of strikes at his disposal and, while MMA fighters can sometimes head-hunt too frequently, switching up the attack from the head to the body could pay dividends for “Poatan” in this case.
With the smart use of body shots, Pereira could sap Prochazka’s gas tank and slow down his movement as the rounds wear on.
That will allow Pereira to not just outstrike the former champion, it’ll also give him the chance to open up Prochazka for a late stoppage.
Switch it up and wrestle
This may sound like madness, given Pereira’s top-of-the-food-chain striking, but the Brazilian has been working hard with former light heavyweight champion, and former Prochazka victim, Glover Texeira, and you can bet that the wily Brazilian veteran has been drilling Pereira for more than just takedown defence ahead of this bout.
With the matchup being over five rounds, a well-timed takedown and solid top control can help get a round or two in the bank, as well as helping drain Prochazka’s gas tank in the process.
The fight might not necessarily be won on the mat, but using the wrestling could provide a smart path to victory for Pereira, whether that’s on the scorecards via decision, or via a late KO or TKO finish.
Alex Pereira v Jiri Prochazka betting odds
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*All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widgets, while odds in copy are accurate at time of publishing but subject to change.
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