UFC 275: Jiri Prochazka vs Glover Teixeira Picks, Predictions, Odds

Glover Teixeira and Jiri Prochazka fight Saturday in UFC 275 at Singapore Indoor Stadium. Teixeira enters this fight with a 33-7 record and has won 55 percent of his fights by knockout. Prochazka enters this fight with a 28-3-1 record and has won 89 percent of his fights by knockout.

Teixeira has won six straight fights and is coming off an October win over Jan Błachowicz. Teixeira is averaging 3.72 significant strikes per minute, with an accuracy percentage of 48 percent. Teixeira is averaging 2.11 takedowns with an accuracy percentage of 39 percent. Teixeira is coming off a submission win at UFC 267 where he landed 71 total strikes and produced two takedowns. The fight earned performance of the night honors. While 42 years old, Teixeira is showing there’s more than enough left in the tank to keep up with the top names in the sport. Teixeira has proven his versatility over his career, as he lands accurate and powerful punches that allow him to fight standing up, mixes in leg kicks well, and he’s a successful takedown artist with eight submission victories under his belt. With a deep background in Kajukenbo, there’s nothing Teixeira can’t do in the octagon, and he’s far from your typical heavyweight who just throws haymakers and hopes to knock the lights out. Teixeira isn’t going to produce knockouts these days, but his work rate is impressive, and he controls the canvas with vicious ground and pound. This will be Teixeira’s first career fight in Singapore.

Prochazka has won each of his last 12 fights and is coming off a May (2021) win over Dominick Reyes. Prochazka is averaging 7.19 significant strikes per minute, with an accuracy percentage of 52 percent. Prochazka is averaging 0.98 takedowns with an accuracy percentage of 100 percent. Prochazka is coming off a knockout at UFC on ESPN 23 that earned performance of the night and fight of the night honors. Prochazka has produced knockouts in each of his last 10 fights. Prochazka hasn’t lost a fight since New Year’s Eve of 2015. Prochazka is a lengthy fighter at 6’4” and 80-inch reach, and he has ridiculous power in his hands and an aggressive style where he stands in the pocket and trades. Prochazka can be creative with his strikes as well, as he’ll mix in a flying knee and just produced a finish with a spinning back elbow. Prochazka has decent takedown defense as well, so he forces opponents to fight his fight. Prochazka has been finished in all three of his losses, including being knocked out twice. This will be Prochazka’s first career fight in Singapore.

Teixeira is the big old guy who just keeps on ticking, and we’ve made a lot of money on him over the years as oddsmakers and bettors keep thinking he’s fallen off. I wouldn’t talk you off the ledge if taking a shot at the plus money here. However, Prochazka is the much younger, quicker and stronger fighter at this stage, and he hasn’t lost a fight in nearly seven years. While Teixeira is the grizzly veteran who finds a way more times than not, this feels like he’s being thrown into the lions’ den. Prochazka and his power striking is downright scary when fighting a guy of Teixeira’s age.

I have to side with Prochazka here.