UFC 275: Teixeira v Prochazka Prediction, Tips, Preview

It's the 42-year-old champion who has seen it all, taking on the enigma of a rising star from the Czech Republic as Glover Teixeira meets with Jiří Procházka for the light heavyweight crown.

It's an unbelievable matchup. Teixeira shouldn't really be here given the current flock of light heavyweight talent on the rise, but against a man like Procházka, it does just feel like this one is just a step too far. The Czech man is very fascinating with his warrior-like approach to life and the discipline and a life structure out in the mountains of his homeland you would see in a Rocky movie.

Procházka is coming into this bout with 28 wins and a stunning 25 of them being knockouts. He also hasn't lost since a KO defeat to Muhammed Lawal in the RIZIN World Grand Prix, but it is important to note that was his second bout in the night as he also forced the retirement of Vadin Nemkov back in 2015 that evening. His stunning spinning elbow KO over Dominick Reyes needs no introduction, while Volkan Oezdemir also fell to a knockout in a Performance of the Night debut win for Prochazka.

The 29-year-old has only needed two fights in the UFC to get this far, but rightfully so, he is here and here to potentially take over, as he really is a lethal striker and a true expert in shutting someone's lights out with ruthless power and technical excellence.

Teixeira defeated Jan Blachowicz to get this title, in what has been a stunning run to the crown. The brutal force of Thiago Santos was submitted en route, while he also forced the tap from Ion Cutelaba and Karl Roberson, just as he destroyed Anthony Smith for five rounds along the way with an eventual TKO victory.

If it goes to the ground, he has a serious chance, and if Teixeira takes his back, it could be over in seconds. We truly believe Procházka is special, however, and at 29 and fresh in the UFC after destroying almost everyone across two continents, the challenger could well finish him inside the first round, with age being everyone's nemesis in the end.

Much of the talk about Valentina Shevchenko taking on Talia Santos for her flyweight crown has been on the idea that this is her toughest bout in defending the title. In truth, it is, but it's still not set to be that tough.

Santos has an excellent record in MMA with 19 wins coming from 20 matches, which have seen 10 through knockout, three via submission, with the remaining wins coming through decision victories. There is a loss on her record, which, most importantly, came on her UFC debut after making a name for herself on Dane White's Contender Series.

Santos submitted Joanne Wood in the last clash, while leaving no judge asking questions when she got the decision win over Molly McCann, Gillian Robertson, and Roxanne Modafferi, after losing to Mara Romero Borella in a split decision. The Brazilian has, however, been in the UFC for just four fights while Shevchenko has defended the title six times after beating Jędrzejczyk for the flyweight title back in 2018.

Shevchenko is a phenom. A breathtaking talent, a generational fighter, and one of the only true mixed martial artists on the planet who has been living and breathing the sport since she was five years old. Her dominant victory over Lauren Murphy put her as the GWOAT in many eyes, despite losing twice to Amanda Nunes, and we struggle to argue that case.

However, all you have to do is think back to Nunes' recent match with Julianna Pena for evidence to see how a fight is still, after all, a fight, and it can go either way on any day.