Daniel Cormier warn Jiri Prochazka not be overzealous against Alexandre Pereira.
Prochazka (30-4-1 MMA, 4-1 UFC) rematches Pereira (10-2 MMA, 7-1 UFC) in the main event of Saturday’s UFC 303 (pay-per-view, ESPN, ESPN+) on T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
After being knocked out by Pereira in their vacant light heavyweight title fight at UFC 295, Prochazka bounced back with a knockout of Aleksandar Rakic at UFC 300. Just like Pereira did, Rakic managed to hurt Prochazka with leg kicks. However, Prochazka overcame Rakic’s strikes before rocking him with a right hand and submitting him on the ground.
“When those two guys get stuck in there, it’s absolute fireworks,” Cormier said. ESPN. “Jiri Prochazka was having success and then Alex Pereira seemed to understand him. The outside leg kicks, I want to know whether or not Prochazka made the adjustments that will allow him to defend that weapon a little better because if he doesn’t, Pereira will limit his movement and knock him out again.”
Cormier advises Prochazka not to implement a similar game plan against Pereira.
“Prochazka just ruled against Rakic that ‘tonight it’s not going to happen,’” Cormier said. “Even though he was beaten by the leg kicks, he just went and attacked him. You can’t do that against Alex Pereira. You have to be more cautious.
“I’m excited about this fight. …When Jiri fought Rakic, he just said, ‘I’m not going to get beat up by you,’ and kind of took him down and knocked him out. You can’t do that to Alex. You will be knocked out.”
For more information on the card, visit the MMA Junkie events hub to UFC 303.
