MMA Preview – Jiri Prochazka vs Aleksandar Rakic at UFC 300
Click here for today’s sports betting tips from our expert analysts!
JIRI PROCHAZKA VS ALEKSANDAR RAKIC FACTS
When is UFC 300? Sunday 14th April, 2024 - 01:00 (UK)
Where is UFC 300? T-Mobile Arena, Paradise, Nevada (US)
Where can I get tickets for UFC 300? Click here to buy tickets for UFC 300
What channel is UFC 300 on? TNT Sports 1
Where can I stream UFC 300? TNT Sports subscribers can stream the fight online via the TNT Sports website and Discovery+
For viewers in the United States, the event will be shown live on ESPN+ and you can sign up for access as part of a Disney Bundle here!
JIRI PROCHAZKA VS ALEKSANDAR RAKIC LOWDOWN
It only took Jiri Prochazka (29-4-1) three fights to become the UFC light heavyweight champion. Wins over Volkan Oezdemir (2020) and Dominick Reyes (2021) completed an incredible 10-fight knockout streak. That led to his title fight with Glover Teixeira (2022) which was an absolute war with him managing to pull off a submission in the fifth round. That capped a 13-fight win streak which was violently snapped by Alex Pereira (2023). All of the momentum was taken out of his sails prior with a shoulder injury that kept him out for over a year. Now, he is on a mission to get it back.
Aleksandar Rakic (14-3) is on the same mission having not fought since he blew his knee out during his fight with Jan Blachowicz (2022) almost two years ago. That wrecked all the momentum gained from two unanimous decision wins over Anthony Smith (2020) and Thiago Santos (2021). Blachowicz was set to welcome him back, but he had to pull out after requiring shoulder surgery. Another blow, but Rakic is just grateful he can walk back into fire on the biggest stage.
JIRI PROCHAZKA VS ALEKSANDAR RAKIC PREDICTION
Before his injury, Rakic was well on his way to a title shot and was getting better with each fight. His striking is ferocious and technical. He was also cerebral and incorporated his takedown at the right times.
He will have seen a lot of vulnerabilities in Prochazka’s fights with Teixeira and Pereira. There are holes in his defence, in particular checking kicks. Rakic possesses thunderous leg kicks and expect him to find the calf to disable the former champ.
However, it is hard to back him with any confidence considering the injury, time off and the fact the Prochazka is as dangerous as it gets. The Czech native is incredibly unorthodox, but he is a knockout artist and usually finds a route to the chin.
We would back a pre-knee blowout Rakic to weather the storm, chop Prochazka down and mix in the takedowns to wear him out. However, we can also see Prochazka blowing a rusty Rakic out the water in the first round.
As Prochazka is the underdog, he is the smart pick, but if Rakic is fully fit, he can win a couple rounds with leg kicks and takedowns.
Prediction: Rakic via Decision
Value bet: Prochazka via KO/TKO
