Brazilian MMA Notables Analyze Alex Pereira-Jiri Prochazka Rematch

A highly-anticipated rematch will take place in the main event at UFC 303.

Eight months after headlining UFC 295 at Madison Square Garden in New York, Jiri Prochazka and Alex Pereira return to the Octagon, this time at T- Mobile Arena in Las Vegas on Saturday night. The first time Prochazka arrived as the favorite, and after dominating the action in the first round, was knocked out in Round 2 by the Brazilian. This time, the Czech fighter will arrive as an underdog. Several noteworthy figures from the Brazilian MMA community weighed in on the UFC 303 main event with Sherdog.com.

Pedro Rizzo (former UFC heavyweight contender): If ‘Poatan’ were asked to take on a fighter with a style opposite to his, for example a wrestler like Daniel Cormier with a full camp, and he had less than a week of camp, it wouldn't be a smart decision for him to put his belt on the line, but this is not the case. Jiri is a kickboxer and despite having dangerous ground-and-pound, I don't see him looking for a takedown against ‘Poatan.’ Jiri is a very dangerous striker, but ‘Poatan’ is the best kickboxer in the division, so I see him winning again.

Carlos Barreto (UFC Fight Pass commentator): Jiri is one of the most dangerous opponents for the champion. Aggressive, strong and with knockout power. But he lacks tactical application. I see his fighting IQ as his Achilles heel. Something that against a precise and lethal sniper like ‘Poatan,’ could be a big problem. Obviously Jiri has powerful ground-and-pound, but he is not a fighter whose characteristic is to control his opponents on the ground, like Khabib for example. He tends to give many openings for his opponents to get up to the striking game again. And in this striking game, ‘Poatan’ is more lethal than him, in addition to having the armored mind of a champion, which is very important.

Renato Carneiro (UFC lightweight): The only certainty I have in this fight is that it won't go to a decision. Both Procazka and ‘Poatan’ are two fighters who are looking for a knockout all the time. And when two strikers with knockout power like them meet, there's no way the fight can reach the end of the fifth round. Although Prochazka is extremely dangerous and has been in camp for longer, ‘Poatan’ is a more technical and aligned striker. A fighter who simply doesn't stop training. So I believe he will win again.

Antonio Carlos Jr. (PFL fighter): I think the fans ended up winning with the collapse of Conor McGregor and Michael Chandler's fight. After all, everyone wants to see this rematch. Without a doubt, Jiri is a very tough guy with a karate game that is difficult to unravel, but ‘Poatan’ is the best striker in the division and my bet is that he will win again.