The intensity inside the Apex Facility was tense, to say the least, as the main event fighters made their walk to the octagon. Dominick Reyes entered the building with a desire to snap a two-fight skid while Jiri Prochazka was looking at a fast-tracked performance. MMA fighters and fans took notice of the highly anticipated light heavyweight scrap and shared their views online.
New era samurai
— Chito Vera (@chitoveraUFC) May 2, 2021
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I think @jiri_bjp is literally trying to level up 😂😂😂 @ufc pic.twitter.com/P5olBQYd4i
— Neil Magny (@NeilMagny) May 2, 2021
Contrasting walkout songs 🤣 #UFC
— JIMI MANUWA (@POSTERBOYJM) May 2, 2021
Dominick Reyes back to the Montel Jordan walkout. Last time he walked to that was at UFC Boston when he stopped Chris Weidman.
— Mike Heck (@MikeHeck_JR) May 2, 2021
The fight delivered in a massive way as Jiri Prochazka ended the proceedings with a devastating spinning back elbow. Reyes ate the shot on the chin and went down like a falling stack of cards.
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‘Denisa’, who has announced himself as a formidable presence, is an immediate threat to fight for a title.
Seriously hope Dominick Reyes is ok. The way he lands on his neck is horrific. #UFCVegas25 https://t.co/i8vf5ZKCvv
— Shaheen Al-Shatti (@shaunalshatti) May 2, 2021
NO. WAY.@jiri_bjp sealed the deal with a spinning elbow 🤯 #UFCVegas25 pic.twitter.com/AAT2eEzQUx
— ESPN MMA (@espnmma) May 2, 2021
Dominick Reyes took several minutes to recover from the blow, and fans were concerned with the way he fell. Chiefly, he crashed onto the canvas face first and seemed to land on his neck. With the loss to Prochazka, he’s now on a three-fight losing streak and will be out of action for a while.
OMG! pic.twitter.com/AhwLrfBT8C
— Jed I. Goodman (@jedigoodman) May 2, 2021
Jiri Prochazka: On the fast-track to UFC gold
The fight produced high octane action right from the get-go, as the MMA community couldn’t get enough. Both men were throwing heavy leather. However, Prochazka was getting the better of the close exchanges. Dominick Reyes did well to constantly fire back and caught Prochazka coming in on multiple occasions.
What a WILD first round!! Jesus! More please! 🙌🏾🥳 #UFCVegas25
— Aljamain Sterling (@funkmasterMMA) May 2, 2021
What a first round!!!! #UFCVegas25
— JIMI MANUWA (@POSTERBOYJM) May 2, 2021
Heavy leather being thrown early by @DomReyes and @jiri_bjp 👀 #UFCVegas25 pic.twitter.com/zYCsvWzQhT
— ESPN MMA (@espnmma) May 2, 2021
There’s serious shades of El Cucuy in Jiri’s style. #UFCVegas25
— Michael Chiesa (@MikeMav22) May 2, 2021
MMA Twitter erupted after Prochazka walked away with the win, and several stars shared their immediate thoughts. Derrick Lewis said what was on a lot of people’s minds as the light heavyweight division just got a new contender.
HOLY SMOKES.
Procházka with a spinning elbow KO in the second. Wow.
— Ariel Helwani (@arielhelwani) May 2, 2021
Despite having a wild fighting style, Prochazka stays out of harm’s way and lands the devastating finish.
Damn good luck to you guys at 205 Prochazka sheesh @ufc
— Derrick Lewis (@Thebeast_ufc) May 2, 2021
That dude is the last boss in a video game
— Bryce Mitchell (@ThugnastyMMA) May 2, 2021
Damnnnn that was madness 👊🏿🤯 #UFCVegas25
— KAMARU USMAN (@USMAN84kg) May 2, 2021
Ok I know what my next hairstyle plan is. #UFCVegas25
— Kevin Holland (@Trailblaze2top) May 2, 2021
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The manner in which Prochazka sparked Reyes to the canvas is something that the MMA world was swooning over. Reyes is a tried and tested commodity in the UFC, and he’s a proven championship-caliber fighter. Now, there’s no doubt that Jiri Prochazka will have everyone’s attention the next time he steps inside the octagon.
Jiri Prochazka is now on a 12-fight win streak and has two highlight-reel KO’s in the UFC. He last was defeated by King Mo all the way back in 2015, and he’s clearly on a roll. Few fighters can match the dynamism he brings to his striking, and his iron-clad chin is an additional benefit. Fellow divisional contenders and fans will be on the lookout to see whether he’s the immediate next in line with just two UFC fights.
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