Jiri Prochazka will inform anybody who will pay attention that he's “residing the warrior path.”
Noon native time in Kallang, Singapore — late Saturday into early Sunday on the opposite aspect of the world in North America — combat followers throughout the globe noticed Prochazka stroll that warrior path all the way in which to UFC gold.
The Czech snatched a win from the gloves of Glover Teixeira, claiming his mild heavyweight championship within the course of with a fifth-round submission victory simply 28 seconds from what virtually certainly was to be a unanimous determination loss at UFC 275.
“It was a real warfare,” Prochazka (29-3, 28 finishes) stated within the post-fight interview. “Glover is a real warrior, and I like that.”
For twenty-four minutes, 32 seconds, Prochazka and Teixeira pushed each other to the brink. The 29-year-old challenger would decide aside his foe one minute. The subsequent: the Brazilian would defy his 42 years by delivering a pounding from the mount, battering the person who was simply 9 years previous when Teixeira (33-8, 28 finishes) turned professional in June 2002.
Teixeira’s bullying barrage from the highest constructed an early two-round lead on the judges’ scorecards. However whilst Prochazka dropped every spherical, he left his mark on the champ because the clear alpha when standing.
Preventing with urgency within the third of 5 frames, Prochazka carved up the champion whom has lengthy hailed from Danbury, Conn., since immigrating as a younger man. It solely received worse for Teixeira because the combat hit the ground, with challenger taking his flip at meting out main harm from the highest. Even a last-minute rally from Teixeira solely managed to seemingly stave off 10-8 scores from every choose; one official nonetheless assessed the motion to that diploma.
A wild spherical 4 pushed the world’s prime 205-pounders deeper into hell. Teixiera twice tried to faucet Prochazka with arm-triangle assaults — the latter seemingly the closest he would get to ending the combat inside the gap. However Prochazka survived and thrived, meting out ache of his personal in a spherical that moderately may have been scored both manner.
Unbeknownst to the combatants, Teixeira was within the driver’s seat on the scorecards getting into the ultimate 5 minutes. Two judges had Teixeira up, 39-37, 38-37, whereas a 3rd had it tied, 38-38. Barring any extra 10-8s — a uncommon rating in MMA — Prochazka doubtless wanted a end to win.
“From my aspect, it was [a] horrible combat, [a] horrible efficiency,” Prochazka later instructed reporters. “You noticed the combat. Some moments, I simply survived some moments. … My life [stance is] to be dominant within the combat and never simply be [the] survivor; to be the hunter.”
The motion wasn’t trending his manner. Teixeira, now, was touchdown heavy pictures on the toes. Prochazka, now, was on the point of defeat. However a guillotine choke try because the champ had his tenacious challenger on the metaphorical ropes proved expensive.
Prochazka weathered the storm, however with a minute remaining nonetheless appeared simply 60 seconds or much less from his first loss in 6 ½ years. After which it occurred: he pounced on a gap left by the weary, getting older champion, locking in a choke from behind but neglecting the standard leg hooks for added leverage and management.
Most occasions in MMA, a rear-naked choke with out the hooks fails, particularly on a veteran grappler equivalent to Teixeira who’d had his manner on the mat with Prochazka a number of occasions over the previous 24 minutes.
Not this time. Teixeira knew he’d been overwhelmed. It was faucet or nap; he selected faucet.
“The choke, that got here naturally,” Prochazka stated within the octagon. “I simply watched the second [and] what alternatives [came] earlier than me.”
In his second of triumph, Prochazka appeared equal components happy and unfulfilled. He spoke of feeling “glad” whereas additionally critiquing his efficiency.
The brand new champ takes nothing away from the previous one, telling assembled media later within the evening that Teixeira’s grappling “stress was wonderful, nonetheless in his age.”
Teixeira later tweeted “Rematch??” whereas tagging UFC president Dana White, who was not in attendance. He turns 43 in October and spoke within the lead-up to his first title protection of a dream situation involving a follow-up championship bout at Madison Sq. Backyard, presumably within the conventional early November window.
Maybe “the warrior path” for Prochazka leads subsequent by way of New York. What combat fan wouldn’t need that?
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