Simon Head: Jiri Prochazka
If we’re talking about fighters stepping in and making an impact, few could match the performance delivered by [autotag]Jiri Prochazka[/autotag] at UFC 251.
After arriving in the UFC from a hugely successful stint in Japan with RIZIN FF, seasoned MMA watchers were viewing Prochazka’s octagon debut with great interest. He was handed a tough first assignment against Volkan Oezdemir, a tough, durable contender with plenty of knockout power. But Prochazka (27-3-1 MMA, 1-0 UFC) stepped into the cage seemingly without a care in the world and, after a short period of time to settle himself and set his sights, he started to tee off on the Swiss striker.
His languid, unorthodox style made for entertaining viewing with his low-slung hands seemingly goading Oezdemir to try to knock him out. Sure, he took a few punches, but he took them well, and by the time the second round started, he was ready to show the world why he’s going to be a serious problem at 205 pounds.
A sledgehammer of a right hand found its mark just seconds into the second frame as he sent Oezdemir crashing to the canvas and propelled himself into legitimate contender status. There’s a host of exciting matchups awaiting him at light heavyweight, but if there’s one bout that seems like a slam-dunk booking after Prochazka’s stunning debut, it’s a clash with Brazilian wild man Johnny Walker.
If Prochazka can replicate the sort of performance we saw against Oezdemir against Walker, the big Czech can expect to be cashing some big checks – and facing some big names – in the coming months.
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