It takes a special talent to be capable of making your UFC debut against a top 10 opponent, but that’s exactly what Jiri Prochazka is: special. The former RIZIN light-heavyweight champ takes on Volkan Oezdemir in UFC 251’s featured prelim this Saturday.
His last fight before signing to the UFC was last New Year’s Eve when he KO’d former UFC mainstay CB Dollaway to defend his LHW belt. The left hook that dropped Dollaway capped off a 10 fight win streak, nine of which came via stoppage with his patented heavy hands.
Prochazka was a fan favorite over at RIZIN and he plans to carry his entertaining style over to the UFC. He had this to say to UFC.com’s Zac Pacleb in an interview earlier this week:
“Fans should expect a great fight… I want to put on a great fight”, he said. “I want to have a fight that will be nice to watch. When you understand fighting, I didn’t do unnecessary things, and for the people, I want to show the people a big show. I just want to show a nice fight, nice movement, how I use my body and breath. I just want to show that.”
Luckily for us fans, he’s facing an opponent in Oezdemir who’s more than willing to stand and bang in the octagon.
Born in Hosteradice, Czech Republic, Prochazka first began training karate, judo and wrestling before transitioning over to Thai boxing in search of something more combative.
‘Denisa’ launched his professional mixed martial arts career in 2012 fighting for a promotion called Gladiator Championship Fighting in the Czech Republic.
From there, he hardly encountered any setbacks losing just three times in his 30 bouts (26-3-1).
The Czech product faces his biggest challenge yet when he squares off against Volkan Oezdemir this Saturday at UFC 251. Oezdemir is a seasoned striker with an impressive resume, but you can count on Prochazka welcoming an “on the feet” affair.
Standing at 6’4” and just now entering his fighting prime at 27 years old, ‘Denisa’ is going to match up very well with the upper echelon of the UFC’s 205lb division.
Look for ‘Denisa’ to make big moves in the UFC’s light-heavyweight division with a win on Saturday over Oezdemir.
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