UFC 295 has a new main event: Jiri Prochazka vs Alex Pereira for the vacant light heavyweight title.
After Jon Jones vs Stipe Miocic was called off, Pereira and Prochazka were promoted to the main event, while Tom Aspinall and Sergei Pavlovich assumed the new co-main position.
The promotion's 205-pound belt has been a revolving door of contenders since Jones vacated the belt in 2020. Now Prochazka, the former undisputed champion, gets a chance to reclaim his gold at Madison Square Garden in New York on Nov. 11.
Pereira, most recently the middleweight champion, is a -125 favorite over Prochazka in this light heavyweight title fight.
Jiri Prochazka vs Alex Pereira Odds
| Fighter | Odds |
|---|---|
| Jiri Prochazka | +100 |
| Alex Pereira | -125 |
Odds as of Nov. 10
Per our odds calculator, a $100 bet on Pereira at -125 pays out $180. The same $100 on Prochazka nets $200.
UFC 295: Prochazka vs Pereira Betting Preview
This is a very, very fun title fight. Expect lightning, thunder, and a stoppage.
How To Bet Prochazka
Jiri is best when things get funky. That means spinning kicks, slaps, elbows, and twisting wrestling/clinch exchanges. Boom, boom, boom — if Prochazka pushes the pace, he's in a great position.
I'd favor the Czech native over Pereira in grappling, as well as the creativity of his strikes and feints. Pereira has the power and cardio advantage.
I'm quite shocked Jiri is the underdog. Beyond defending some takedowns, Pereira wasn't all that impressive in his LHW debut vs Jan Blachowicz at UFC 291. My best bets on Jiri will be for him to win straight up (+125) with more value on him to win inside the distance (TBD).
How To Bet Pereira
Pereira is just as capable of a knockout win. I love how the Brazilian paces his fights, and his kickboxing, while rather simple, is shockingly deceptive.
On top of that, Pereira is made of stone. Between his leg kicks and stabbing punches (or his atomic left hook), there are a lot of areas Prochazka must defend. If Pereira can tag Jiri early and start to wear him down, then this might become a one-sided fight. Watch for Jiri's injured shoulder to be a factor in this fight, too. The Czech native could be fighting tentative.
Bet Pereira to win straight up or by KO/TKO, whatever tickles your fancy.
Prochazka vs Pereira Pick
My best bet is for this fight to end inside the distance but still go OVER 2.5 rounds at +140.
In the end, I'll be taking Prochazka to win straight up, as I think his craziness offers far more upside for a stoppage win.
