UFC 282: Jiří Procházka vs. Glover Teixeira early preview and prediction
By Alec Arritola
Preview and prediction for Jiří Procházka vs. Glover Teixeira at UFC 282.
28 seconds. That is how close 42-year-old Glover Teixeira was from his first successful light heavyweight title defense against the inaugural RIZIN FF light heavyweight champion Jiří Procházka at UFC 275.
Teixiera was ahead on two of the three judge’s scorecards, with one judge scoring the bout 39-37 and another scoring it 38-37 after four rounds. However, while Teixiera was seemingly winning the fifth round with less than 30 seconds left, Procházka did not leave the result in the hands of the judges, securing a rear-naked choke to become the new UFC light heavyweight champion and the first-ever Czech UFC champ.
On Dec. 10, 2022, six months after their first meeting, Teixeira and Procházka will face off for the main event of UFC 282 at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, NV. Another notable matchup at UFC 282 includes Jan Błachowicz vs. Magomed Ankalaev, which in all likelihood will produce the next light heavyweight title challenger to face the winner of Procházka vs. Teixeira 2.
Who will win at UFC 282: Jiří Procházka or Glover Teixeira?
As fans saw in the first fight, numerous near-fight-ending sequences were traded between Procházka and Teixeira in the 24-minute affair. Both fighters showed incredible fortitude, constantly sustaining heavy damage and then quickly switching the script on each other.
While Teixeira entered the matchup as a +180 underdog, Procházka was dominated at specific points in the fight, with his 13-year-older opponent easily securing takedowns and landing hard ground-and-pound, as well as constantly threatening submission attempts. On the other hand, there was also no shortage of Procházka moments over Teixeira, with the final seconds of the fight being the most significant.
While both fighters showed an incredible will to win, their second meeting will primarily rely on which fighter can make the necessary adjustments to get the upper hand in their next 25-minute fight. Procházka’s cardio was tested in the most protracted fight of his career, and though fatigue set in, it did not stop him from ending the battle in the final moments.
Prediction: Jiří Procházka wins via knockout
Next. 5 of the best heavyweight fights in MMA history. dark