UFC Hall of Famer Michael Bisping expects Jamahal Hill vs. Jiří Procházka will steal the show at UFC 311.
UFC light heavyweight contenders Jamahal Hill and Jiří Procházka may not headline UFC 311, but their clash might be just as important as a title fight. Both fighters are looking to earn another shot at UFC light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira after brutal knockout losses to the title holder in their most recent outings.
There is a lot of pressure on Hill and Procházka this weekend to make a statement to the rest of the UFC light heavyweight division. Both former title holders have one-punch knockout power, and their fight is expected to remain an intriguing matchup while it lasts.
Michael Bisping believes that Hill vs. Not only does Procházka have a chance to earn 'Fight of the Night' honors, but there's a chance it will end on a destructive note.
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Michael Bisping predicts Jamahal Hill vs. Jiří Procházka will not complete the entire match
During the UFC 311 preview show on TNT Sports, Bisping gave his analysis for Hill vs. Procházka.
“Jamahal Hill has been hounding everyone online and has done a great job of turning the fan base against him,” Bisping began on Hill vs. Procházka. “But the way I look at it is he's got a chip on his shoulder… he's irritated, embarrassed and angry. And those emotions can help you! He holds this close to his heart. And on the other side Jiří Procházka, the samurai. We call that a joke, but he means it when he says he trained in Japan with karate grandmasters… he has a wild style, crazy aggressive, unpredictable…
“I can't wait for this fight. This could be 'Fight of the Night' for as long as it lasts. It will be one of the most exciting fights you will ever see. And someone will pass out, I guarantee it!”
Hill and Procházka both show a tendency to look for finishes inside the Octagon, with both positive and negative results. The two former champions earned light heavyweight gold by dismantling some of the division's top challengers in gruesome fashion.
Procházka's most recent TKO/KO win came against Aleksandar Rakić at UFC 300 last April. The victory earned him a title rematch against Pereira on short notice at UFC 303, with a stoppage falling to the Brazilian for a second time.
Hill, who earned the then-vacant title by defeating Glover Teixeira at UFC 283, had three consecutive knockout victories before the Teixeira clash. He defeated Jimmy Crute, Johnny Walker and former title challenger Thiago Santos before being awarded the title.
The winner of Jamahal Hill vs. Jiří Procházka could be next for Alex Pereira
Pereira, who last defended the title against Khalil Rountree Jr. at UFC 307 in October, is expected to face the rising Magomed Ankalaev for his next title defense. But Hill and Procházka have the opportunity to potentially skip the line and change the course of the UFC matchmakers for the division.
To add to the intrigue surrounding Hill vs. Procházka, there have been some back-and-forth conversations between the two former champions in recent months. While the extent of their bad blood is debatable, their pre-fight barbs could contribute to a likely furious fight at UFC 311.
Hill and Procházka both want to start the new year with a bang, and Bisping and other analysts believe that's almost a guarantee that their clash won't last long.
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