For 10 minutes, a lot of observers likely were wondering: “What’s the f*cking deal with Jiri Prochazka?”
Then Round 3 started. And holy sh*t – proverbially speaking, of course.
Former light heavyweight champion Prochazka (32-5-1 MMA, 6-2 UFC) withstood two rounds of pressure from ex-title challenger Khalil Rountree Jr. (14-7 MMA, 10-7 UFC), then knocked him out with a brutal left hand in the third. The finish came at the 3:04 mark of the final frame, and Prochazka put himself in position to ask for a title shot in the near future.
Prochazka was a 2-1 betting favorite in the fight on the main card at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
It took them about three minutes to get warmed up in the opening round, but once they started letting loose, there was plenty of fun to be had. Prochazka was stung with a punch, and had a few issues with his footwork. But he also wasn’t shy about firing off kicks and making regular threats for jumping knees. Rountree’s work was efficient and more workmanlike, and it may have won him the round.
The pace slowed in the second, and while Prochazka was landing, it almost appeared as if he was in a sparring match. Rountree’s striking was more crisp, but it wasn’t putting the former champ in danger.
Likely down two rounds, Prochazka’s third round should’ve been easy to predict. And about 45 seconds in, he started to create some drama. He landed punches, kicks and knees and multiple times had Rountree moving backward eating big punches.
Prochazka started teeing off 90 seconds into the round, and Rountree’s eye was cut badly. He backed up, and Prochazka drilled him to the body. Rountree tied him up, but Prochazka kneed him to the body. Rountree looked exhausted, but threatened with a choke, then an elbow.
With two minutes left, Prochazka landed a spinning elbow. Then a mere moment later, Rountree was out on the canvas after Prochazka’s left. The faceplant was brutal.
Up-to-the-minute UFC 320 results:
- Jiri Prochazka def. Khalil Rountree Jr. knockout (punch) – Round 3, 3:04
- Youssef Zalal def. Josh Emmett via submission (armbar) – Round 1, 1:38
- Joe Pyfer def. Abus Magomedov via submission (rear-naked choke) – Round 2, 1:44
- Ateba Gautier def. Treston Vines via TKO (strikes) – Round 1, 1:41
- Daniel Santos def. JooSang Yoo via TKO (punches) – Round 2, 0:21
- Jakub Wiklacz def. Patchy Mix via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
- Edmen Shahbazyan def. Andre Muniz via TKO (strikes) – Round 1, 4:58
- Punahele Soriano def. Nikolay Veretennikov via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
- Yana Santos def. Macy Chiasson via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
- Farid Basharat def. Chris Gutierrez via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
- Ramiz Brahimaj def. Austin Vanderford via submission (guillotine choke) – Round 2, 2:24
- Veronica Hardy def. Brogan Walker via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
