UFC Fight Night results, highlights: Jiri Prochazka knocks out Dominick Reyes with spinning elbow

Prochazka earned a title shot with his incredible performance, winning a war with Reyes

After a UFC Fight Night card that saw only one finish before the light heavyweight main event, Jiri Prochazka left a lasting impression with his knockout of two-time world title challenger Dominick Reyes. The wild back-and-forth battle came to a stunning end when Prochazka connected with a spinning back elbow that knocked Reyes out cold for the second round finish.

Prochazka repeatedly stunned Reyes through the first round, landing punches from odd angles to send Reyes stumbling. Every Prochazka's attempt to follow up for the finish in the opening frame was cut off by wild counterstrikes from Reyes, leading to extended firefights that left Reyes badly bloodied after five minutes.

Reyes would have a big moment in the second round, landing a heavy left hand that finally hurt Prochazka. In an attempt to survive the moment, Prochazka shot for a takedown, only to find himself caught in a guillotine choke. Once he escaped from the choke, the end was only moments away.

"I just want to show the beauty of the art, but sometimes I go very quickly for the win and by that I catch some punches and that's a mistake," Prochazka said after the fight. "But I'm learning fight by fight."

Prochazka poured on heavy ground and pound from top position, sending Reyes scrambling back to his feet. Prochazka's pressure did not stop, however, and with Reyes' back pinned to the cage, Prochazka threw an elbow that missed before uncorking the spinning back elbow that dropped Reyes to the canvas.

"I just flow," Prochazka said of the finish. "After some counterpunches from Dominick, I could have no chance to think through some plans. I just was in the flow. After that, maybe a spinning elbow? Yeah, that."

UFC president Dana White said before the fight that the winner of the fight would be set up as the challenger for the winner of the upcoming fight between division champion Jan Blachowicz and top contender Glover Teixeira. That would have been Reyes' third title shot in four fights, having lost to former champion Jon Jones and then Blachowicz in a fight for the title after it was vacated by Jones in anticipation of his move to heavyweight. Instead, the honor goes to Prochazka, earning the shot in just his second fight in the UFC.

"Yeah. I'm ready. Let's do that. Let's do that, yeah. Let's do that. I like my neighbor Blachowicz, but OK. There's a fight with Glover next. [Fighting the winner] is an honor for me."

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Elsewhere on the card, Giga Chikadze made an emphatic statement with a first-round TKO of Cub Swanson in the co-main event. Chikadze landed a clean kick to the liver that sent Swanson crippling to the canvas in pain. Chikadze added a few followup punches before the referee stepped in to call it off. Chikadze is now 6-0 in UFC with two straight stoppage victories. The loss ended a two-fight win streak for Swanson.

CBS Sports was with you the entire way on Saturday bringing you all the results and highlights from the UFC Fight Night card. 

UFC Fight Night card and results

• Jiri Prochazka def. Dominick Reyes via second-round knockout (spinning elbow)
• Giga Chikadze def. Cub Swanson via first-round TKO (body kick)
• Ion Cutelaba vs. Dustin Jacoby ruled a split draw (29-28, 28-29, 28-28)
• Sean Strickland def. Krzysztof Jotko via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
• Merab Dvalishvili def. Cody Stamann via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)

[May 2, 2021 at 12:28 am ET · Brent Brookhouse]

Prochazka passed to half guard beffore trying to move to mount but Reyes sucked him back into the guard and landed elbows off the bottom before a big up kick. Prochazka exploded with strikes, sending Reyes scrambling back to his feet. Prochazka flurried before throwing a spinning back elbow, knocking Reyes out cold! Official result: Jiri Prochazka def. Dominick Reyes via KO (elbow), Round 2

[May 2, 2021 at 12:26 am ET · Brent Brookhouse]

Prochazka landed a huge jab and Reyes appeared hurt as Prochazka continued stalking and throwing big front kicks and a hard elbow before a Reyes left hand hurt Prochazka badly. Prochazka shot for a takedown and Reyes locked up a guillotine choke and tried to squeeze for the finish. Prochazka was able to pull his head out, ending up in top position.

[May 2, 2021 at 12:25 am ET · Brent Brookhouse]

Dominick Reyes vs. Jiri Prochazka -- Round 2: Reyes' nose was bleeding badly after the first round. His nose had been broken badly against Jan Blachowicz in his previous fight. The first minute was fought at a slower pace until Reyes exploded with a combination but Prochazka landed a huge right hand, Reyes fired back with his own bombs, however and the wild action continued both ways. 

[May 2, 2021 at 12:22 am ET · Brent Brookhouse]

Prochazka landed another big right and Reyes fired back again with heavy counters. The back and forth action continued with both men getting in hard but Prochazka landed a big late flurry that likely cemented him the round. Unofficial score: 10-9 Prochazka

[May 2, 2021 at 12:20 am ET · Brent Brookhouse]

Reyes moved to mount and tried to take the back but Prochazka powered back to standing. Prochazka landed a series of three heavy punches, hurting Reyes and sending him backward. Reyes countered as Prochazka tried to come forward but it was Prochazka landing heavier shots even as Reyes tried to counter. 

[May 2, 2021 at 12:19 am ET · Brent Brookhouse]

Dominick Reyes vs. Jiri Prochazka -- Round 1: Reyes feinted a bit early on trying to set up some timing before throwing a leg kick. A body kick landed for Reyes after going to the leg. Prochazka threw an uppercut and a winging right, neither of which connected cleanly before Reyes landed a left hand. Prochazka landed a big right hand that wobbled Reyes. Reyes drove in and scored a takedown that Prochazka wasn't able to defend.

[May 1, 2021 at 11:57 pm ET · Brent Brookhouse]

The main event is up next as Dominick Reyes meets Jiri Prochazka at light heavyweight.

[May 1, 2021 at 11:54 pm ET · Brent Brookhouse]

Giga Chikadze vs. Cub Swanson -- Round 1: Chikadze landed a straight right hand and Swanson answered with a few solid leg kicks. A Chikadze body kick sent Swanson back immediately, grabbing at his side as he went to the ground. Some follow-up ground and pound brought the fight to a sudden close as Chikadze is near-guaranteed to earn a Performance of the Night bonus with the only finish on the card so far. Official result: Giga Chikadze def. Cub Swanson via TKO (body kick and punches), Round 1.