If Jiri Prochazka's first UFC fight is any indication, MMA fans can expect an action-packed fight when the fifth-ranked light heavyweight meets former title challenger Dominick Reyes in the main event of UFC Fight Night: Reyes vs. Prochazka on Saturday. Their matchup will close the curtain on the UFC Fight Night: Reyes vs. Prochazka fight card from the Apex facility, and the main card is set for 10 p.m. ET from Las Vegas. Prochazka is a celebrated former Rizin champion who made his UFC debut last year with a spectacular stoppage of No. 8-ranked Volkan Oezdemir. His trajectory was escalated and now he faces the No. 3-ranked Reyes, who came up short in two title fights last year but can resurrect his career with a victory.
Prochazka is a -145 favorite (risk $145 to win $100), while Reyes is priced at +125 in the latest Reyes vs. Prochazka odds from William Hill Sportsbook. In the co-main event, Giga Chikadze is the -190 favorite in the latest UFC Fight Night: Reyes vs. Prochazka odds as he meets Cub Swanson (+170) in a battle of ranked featherweights. Before locking in any UFC Fight Night: Reyes vs. Prochazka picks, make sure you see the latest MMA predictions from SportsLine insider Ian Parker.
A former fighter who's been in the industry for 15 years, Parker has managed some of the world's best, including former UFC middleweight champ Chris Weidman, Costas Philippou and Gian Villante. Parker trained alongside UFC Hall of Famer Matt Serra. Now, Parker breaks down fights and makes betting picks for the Voice of the UFC, Jon Anik.
Parker is coming off a mind-boggling 2020 season. On the Anik & Florian Podcast, Parker went an astounding 58-14, returning $9,465 to $100 bettors who followed him. He hit 11 of his 17 underdog picks and 19 of 30 main events. Overall, Parker nailed an astonishing 81 percent of his plays.
Parker has already proven his mettle to SportsLine members. Last week at UFC, he posted a 9-4 record to give his followers another profitable night. His winners included advising a play on Randy Brown (-135) against Charles Oliveira (+115) in a welterweight matchup. Brown won by first-round submission to provide an easy winner. Moreover, Parker is 8-1 on Bellator picks since joining SportsLine for a profit of nearly $800. Anyone who has followed Parker already has seen massive returns.
Now, with UFC Fight Night: Reyes vs. Prochazka fast approaching, Parker has studied the MMA odds and matchups from every angle and released his top selections. A successful parlay of those selections would result in a payday of better than 13-1. Those UFC picks are available here.
UFC Fight Night: Reyes vs. Prochazka preview
Reyes (12-2) memorably took Jon Jones to the wire last February in a five-round battle that saw Jones narrowly earn the nod on the scorecards. However, many observers believed Reyes won the first three rounds and should have been crowned the new champion.
Jones has since vacated the title for his move to heavyweight, though he has yet to sign a fight in his new division. Reyes fought Jan Blachowicz for the vacant title in September and lost by second-round stoppage. A third consecutive defeat would likely send the 31-year-old Californian plummeting in the UFC rankings and out of the title picture for the foreseeable future.
Even so, Reyes will be right back in the title picture should he get his hand raised. This won't be an easy task against the versatile and explosive Prochazka (27-3-1), who enters the Octagon on an 11-fight win streak.
The 28-year-old Czech Republic native is in the rare position of competing in a UFC main event in just his second fight with the promotion, not to mention carrying a top-five ranking with just one fight under his belt.
However, few MMA observers question his credentials. His dominant run through the Rizin promotion included a stoppage win over current Bellator heavyweight champion Vadim Nemkov and another against former UFC contender C.B. Dollaway. His lone UFC appearance resulted in a second-round stoppage of former title contender Volkan Oezdemir last July. You can only see who to back here.
UFC Fight Night: Reyes vs. Prochazka predictions
We'll give away one of Parker's UFC Fight Night picks here: He is going with Merab Dvalishvili (-220) to get past Cody Stamann (+190) in a meeting of ranked bantamweight contenders on the main card.
The No. 12-ranked Dvalishvili (12-4) has emerged as a rising and feared contender behind a relentless wrestling-based attack that quells his opponent's arsenal. The 30-year-old Georgian fighter hasn't lost since April 2018 when he was submitted by fellow prospect Ricky Simon. Dvalishvili has since won five consecutive fights, with all of them going the distance.
Stammann (19-3-1), ranked No. 13, has gone 5-2-1 in eight UFC appearances, with the losses coming against current champion Aljamain Sterling and No. 11-ranked contender Jimmie Rivera. The 31-year-old Michigan native split two fights in 2020, with the loss to Rivera coming in July after he defeated veteran Brian Kelleher by decision in June.
"Look for Dvalishvili to pressure Stamann as soon as the bell rings and immediately look for takedowns. Once he gets the fight to the mat, he will use his strong top game to tire out Stamann," Parker told SportsLine.
How to make UFC Fight Night: Prochazka vs. Reyes picks
Parker also has strong picks for Reyes vs. Prochazka and other fights on the UFC fight card. He's backing a fighter who is the "better and more accurate striker" to deliver an emphatic victory. Those selections are only available at SportsLine.
Who wins Reyes vs. Prochazka? And which fighter is a must-back? Visit SportsLine now to get detailed UFC Fight Night picks, all from the ultimate insider who was up nearly $9,500 on MMA picks last year, and find out.
UFC Fight Night: Reyes vs. Prochazka odds
Jiri Prochaszka (-145) vs. Dominick Reyes (+125)
Giga Chikadze (-190) vs. Cub Swanson (+170)
Ion Cutelaba (-130) vs. Dustin Jacoby (+110)
Sean Strickland (-250) vs. Krzysztof Jotko (+210)
Merab Dvalishvili (-220) vs. Cody Stamann (+190)
Poliana Botelho (-210) vs. Luana Carolina (+180)
Luana Pinheiro (-175) vs. Randa Markos (+155)
Gabriel Benitez (-200) vs. Jonathan Pearce (+175)
Kai Kamaka (-160) vs. TJ Brown (+140)
Loma Lookboonmee (-360) vs. Sam Hughes (+300)
Andreas Michailidis (-245) vs. KB Bhullar (+205)
Luke Sanders (-150) vs. Felipe Colares (+130)
