UFC 295 “Prochazka Vs. Pereira” + Weekly MMA Report
UFC Sao Paulo’s main event was a big letdown. Jailton Almeida mauled Derrick Lewis for five rounds and earned a unanimous decision win, but the fight was very boring to watch. But there were some high-quality performances too.
UFC Sao Paulo Awards
The Fight of the Night award was given to Nicolas Dalby and Gabriel Bonfim, who took part in an amazing toe-to-toe battle. Dalby celebrated with a stoppage in the second round.
Dalby silences the crowd! 🙊@DalbyMMA knockouts Gabriel Bonfim in the second round! 🇩🇰#UFCSP pic.twitter.com/qS0n8weNr5
— UFC (@ufc) November 5, 2023
Two Performance of the Night awards were given to Vitor Petrino, who floored Modestas Bukauskas with a nasty check hook; and Elves Brenner, who put Kaynan Kruschewsky to sleep with a nasty overhand combo.
STILL UNDEFEATED 😱@VitorPetrino gets the second round KO at #UFCSP pic.twitter.com/LvNKQvaszu
— UFC (@ufc) November 5, 2023
First round KO for Elves Brener! 🇧🇷 pic.twitter.com/YGZaKXXEjZ
— UFC (@ufc) November 5, 2023
UFC 295 Announcement
After a solid event in Brazil, the UFC moves to Madison Square Garden in New York City for a very promising UFC 295 pay-per-view event. It is headlined by the championship clash of two epic 205-pound strikers – the former champ Jiri Prochazka and one of the all-time greatest kickboxers Alex “Poatan” Pereira.
Image source: @UFCBrasil Twitter
Jiri Prochazka is known for his brute force and superb chin thanks to spending hours in the gym. His unorthodox striking is a big problem for everybody. Prochazka is an all-around fighter – he is the only guy who submitted Glover Teixeira, but also the only fighter who scored a vicious spinning back elbow knockout against Dominick Reyes.
Alex Pereira is the master of left hook. He destroyed Israel Adesanya and many other great names of the division. Yet, he moved one division up now, there is a huge difference between 185 and 205. “Poatan” is very powerful, but his ground game and clinch striking are questionable, so his only way to win is to keep this battle standing by any means necessary.
Prediction: the fight will not go the distance
The co-main event is evenly entertaining, as the best 265-pound technical boxer Tom Aspinall squares off against the hardest heavyweight hitter Sergei Pavlovich.
Aspinall’s BJJ is excellent, and he has good chances if the bout goes to the ground, but Pavlovich’s takedown defense and strength are superb. One way or another, this is a guaranteed banger. Both guys are gym addicts, you can expect a knockout here.
Prediction: the fight will not go the distance
Additional reading: Multi Gym Guide
UFC 295 Full Fight Card
Please take a look at the full fight card below. There are many lovely battles on Saturday.
Main Card (ESPN+ PPV, 10 PM ET, 3 AM UK time)
UFC Vacant Light Heavyweight Championship: Jiří Procházka (29-3-1) vs. Alex Pereira (8-2-0)
UFC Interim Heavyweight Championship: Sergei Pavlovich (18-1-0) vs. Tom Aspinall (13-3-0)
Strawweight: Jéssica Andrade (24-12-0) vs. Mackenzie Dern (13-3-0)
Featherweight: Pat Sabatini (18-4-0) vs. Diego Lopes (22-6-0)
Lightweight: Matt Frevola (11-3-1) vs. Benoit Saint-Denis (12-1-0)
Preliminary Card (ESPNews, UFC On Fight Pass, 8 PM ET, 1 AM UK time)
Flyweight: Joshua Van (8-1-0) vs. Kevin Borjas (9-1-0)
Lightweight: Jared Gordon (19-6-0) vs. Mark Madsen (12-1-0)
Featherweight: Dennis Buzukja (11-3-0) vs. Jamall Emmers (19-7-0)
Bantamweight: Nazim Sadykhov (9-1-0) vs. Viacheslav Borshchev (7-3-0)
Early Prelims (ESPN+, UFC On Fight Pass, 6 PM ET, 11 PM UK time)
Strawweight: Tabatha Ricci (9-1-0) vs. Lupita Godinez (11-3-0)
Bantamweight: Kyung Ho Kang (19-9-0) vs. John Castañeda (20-6-0)
Flyweight: Steve Erceg (10-1-0) vs. Alessandro Costa (13-3-0)
UFC 295 Predictions
Please take a look at my full fight card predictions in the playlist below.
The upcoming UFC 295 PPV is stacked from top to bottom. There is a knockout or submission possibility in every single fight, all the fighters had a lot of finishes in the past. This card should be fireworks, two title fights are heading our way. Sit next to your watching device at 6 PM ET and don’t miss this one!
