Jiri Prochazka takes a “very simple” view of his battle with Glover Teixeira at UFC 275.
“I am a stand-up guy, and he is a ground player,” says Prochazka. “That is all.”
While there’s an element of truth there, it’s certainly a bit more complicated when Teixeira defends her UFC lightweight belt against Prochazka in the main event in Singapore.
Teixeira is known for his endurance and strength in his hands, in addition to his wrestling and grappling abilities. He’s also writing one of MMA’s best Cinderella stories, winning the belt in his 40s long after he was knocked out of the tournament.
Prochazka, meanwhile, has been one of the most diverse and innovative strikers at this level of MMA for a long time. ESPN ranks Teixeira at number 8 in its list of the best MMA fighters in the world and number 1 in light heavyweight. Prochazka ranked 4th in light heavyweight.
Teixeira (33-7) Becomes Oldest First Time Champion In UFC History When He Beats Jan Blachowicz for the title at UFC 267 last October. The Brazilian is the second oldest UFC champion ever, after Randy Couture. Teixeira, 42, has won six in a row and challenged for the title for the first time, losing Jon Jonesin 2014.
Prochazka (28-3-1) has won 12 straight fights, including his first two fights in the UFC. The Czech-born player finished an incredible 10 in a row via KO/TKO. Prochazka, 29 years old, is about to knock out with a second round elbow of Dominick Reyes in May 2021, the Knockout of the Year nominee. “Denisa” is a former light heavyweight champion of the Rizin Struggle Federation of Japan.
In the co-main event, Valentina Shevchenko will defend her UFC women’s flyweight title against Taila Santos. ESPN has ranked Shevchenko (March 22) as the top female MMA fighter in the world. With a win, the 34-year-old will pass Ronda Rousey for the most successful title defense ever in a tournament between UFC women’s champions. Santos (19-1), a 28-year-old tennis player from Brazil, has won 4 matches in a row.
Also on the card, former UFC women’s straw champion Zhang Weili and Joanna Jedrzejczyk face off in a rematch with the 2020 Fight of the Year nominee, hot knockout artist Andre Fialho meeting Jake Matthews in a welding weight match and Australian welding weight outlook Jack Della Maddalena the faces Ramazan Emeev.
Watch Brett Okamoto, Marc Raimondi and Jeff Wagenheim recap the action from Singapore or watch matches on ESPN+ PPV.
Now fight: Men’s feather class: Seungwoo Choi (10-4, 3-3 UFC, -240) vs. Josh Culibao (9-1-1, 1-1-1 UFC, +200)
UFC 275 results
Light: Maheshate (7-1, 1-0 UFC) defeat. Steve Garcia (12-5, 1-2 UFC) by knockout (Watch on ESPN+)
1:04
Maheshate put Steve Garcia on the frame with a single punch at UFC 275.
Maheshate’s UFC debut was quick, with Garcia’s first KO in Singapore. More to come in a little bit.
Average grade: Brendan Allen (19-5, 7-2 UFC) lost. Jacob Malkoun (6-2, 2-2 UFC) by unanimous decision (Watch on ESPN+)
Allen, 26, narrowly avoided a nasty loss at the hands of Australia’s Malkoun, but ultimately secured a decisive victory thanks to a unanimous umpire’s 29-28 scorecard.
Malkoun had a huge success with a one-legged knockdown and became the first fighter in UFC middleweight history to score at least six kills in three straight fights. He takes out Allen in every round of teamfights, though he also struggles to hit any real offensive action from those positions. Allen reversed Malkoun’s position several times and landed with some strong elbows from the top – especially in the third round.
It could be the difference in scores. According to UFC statistics, Malkoun claimed more than 7 minutes of control time in the match – compared to 3:24 of Allen’s control time – but Allen landed more than double the total number of shots.
“I feel like I’m more active and I’m trying to hurt him,” Allen said. “He just hugs every time.”
As of 2019, Allen has recorded six wins in the UFC. Only defending champion Israel Adesanya and Kevin Holland added (7) in the division during that time.
Men’s middleweight: Kyung Ho Kang (18-9 1 NC, 7-3 1 NC UFC) lost. Batgerel Danaa (12-4, 3-3 UFC) by unanimous decision (Watch on ESPN+)
Kang’s nickname is “Mr. Perfect”, and the only question is whether it’s an homage to his piston-smashing or restless leg kicks. Both made their mark and slowed Danaa considerably as Kang pulled out for a clear decision (29-28 on all three cards).
Kang, 34 years old and from South Korea, controlled distance throughout and overcame Danaa’s powerful attacks. Kang, who also faced umpire Thomas Fann who essentially missed an illegal knee on Danaa in Round 2, has won four of his last five games.
Danaa, 32, from Mongolia, who trains at Jackson Wink MMA in Albuquerque, New Mexico, fought well early on but was slowed by her opponent’s sharp and steady attacks. He became desperate after that, unleashing powerful shots that Kang was able to quickly dodge as Danaa lost her second game in a row.
Straw weight: Silvana Gomez Juarez (11-4, 1-2 UFC) lost. Liang Na (19-6, 0-2 UFC) by TKO (Watch on ESPN+)
1:17
Silvana Gómez Juárez knocks out Liang Na with an incredible series of punches.
Gomez Juarez may have been fighting for her job, as she was powerless to attend this weekend. She has kept her spot on the UFC roster in as strong a way as possible.
Gomez Juarez slams Na with slamming punches, causing her to lose sleep to win the knockout at 1:22 of the first round. It was Gomez Juarez’s first win in the UFC. Gomez Juarez lands with an overhand kick that Na puts it on her ass. Na stood up, and Gomez landed with a left hook that brought Na down. Referee Steve Perceval quickly stepped in.
“So happy,” Gomez Juarez. “I dreamed about it. I envisioned it.”
Gomez Juarez, 37, has won a two-fight UFC losing streak. The Argentine born fighter, living and training in Tijuana, Mexico, is a professional boxer for 12 years, having fought in places like Poland, Brazil and Mexico before earning a spot in the UFC. Na, 25, from China, has dropped to second place in a row and is still looking for her first UFC win.
Women’s feather class: Joselyne Edwards (11-4, 2-2 UFC) lost. Ramona Pascual (6-4, 0-2 UFC) by unanimous decision (Watch on ESPN+)
Panama’s Edwards claimed his second win in the Octagon, following a solid three-round effort against Pascual. Edwards defended all but one of Pascual’s knockdown attempts, maintained distance on her feet and embarked on her super kickboxing en route to scores 30-27, 29-28 and 29-28 of the jury. According to UFC statistics, Edwards overtook Pascual in total hits, from 150 to 64.
Pascual had a moment in the opening half when she hurt Edwards with a left kick to the body, followed by a left head kick. However, Edwards survived and continued to dominate in the second and third innings. She never injured Pascual, but she masterfully controlled the range and grounded her front body kicks and leg kicks at will. She improved to 2-2 in the UFC with the win. This is her first time in the UFC at 145 pounds. Her previous three came in the 135-pound weight class.
Still to come:
(c) = defending champion
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Light Heavyweight Championship: Glover Teixeira (c) (33-7, 16-5 UFC, +175) vs Jiri Prochazka (28-3-1, 2-0 UFC, -210)
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Women’s Flyweight Championship: Valentina Shevchenko (c) (22-3, 11-2 UFC, -625) vs Taila Santos (19-1, 4-1 UFC, +450)
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Straw weight: Zhang Weili (21-3, 5-2 UFC, -165) vs. Joanna Jedrzejczyk (16-4, 10-4 UFC, +140)
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Light-weight: Jake Matthews (17-5, 10-5 UFC, +120) vs. Andre Fialho (16-4, 2-1 UFC, -145)
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Light-weight: Jack Della Maddalena (11-2, 1-0 UFC, -160) vs. Ramazan Emeev (20-5, 5-2 UFC, +135)
