MMA News

Tag: Jiri Prochazka

  • Georges St-Pierre’s Coach Labels Jiří Procházka’s UFC 303 Performance As ‘Worst Approach To A Fight Ever’

    Jiří Procházka was unable to reclaim the UFC light heavyweight title in a rematch with Alex Pereira this past weekend in Las Vegas.

    Despite believing that he had made some significant adjustments for his approach this time around, UFC 303 was a far more one-sided affair than their previous encounter last November.

    Though it is true that Procházka was having success in the first fight until he was stopped in the second round, he was seemingly fighting a losing battle mostly due to the damage that was done to his leg early on in the fight.

    The same thing happened on Saturday night but Pereira was able to find a home for his devastating left hook even earlier on this occasion, before finishing the fight at the start of the second round with a head kick.

    Firas Zahabi Criticizes Jiří Procházka For Being Happy To Strike With Alex Pereira

    The highly-regarded MMA coach Firas Zahabi gave his breakdown of the fight during a recent video on the Tristar Gym YouTube channel.

    He was very critical of the approach that Procházka came into the rematch with because there wasn’t enough emphasis placed on switching things up on Pereira.

    Zahabi referenced how there is a stark difference in the amount of MMA experience that both men have, with Procházka coming into the main event with 36 pro fights compared to Pereira’s 13.

    The former coach of Georges St-Pierre couldn’t understand why the challenger wouldn’t look to take advantage of this by trying to take the former world champion kickboxing out of his comfort zone.

    “You’d think Jiří would have like 10 more years under his belt in wrestling and still he didn’t even fathom a takedown. He tried one little clinch, he didn’t even knock on that door. Very disappointing strategy by Jiří. Jiří was just seemingly happy to strike and I will tell you, within the first minute of round one, “Poatan” had landed like four kicks and you could tell he was already hurting Jiří’s leg.

    “Jiří’s game plan and performance, I think that was his worst approach to a fight ever, he’s ever had. I heard he was like three days in a cave somewhere meditating, thinking about this fight, how he’s going to approach it. Unfortunately for him it really didn’t work.”

  • Chael Sonnen Accuses Jiří Procházka Of ‘Being A Baby’ In Reaction To UFC 303 Loss

    Chael Sonnen Accuses Jiří Procházka Of ‘Being A Baby’ In Reaction To UFC 303 Loss

    Former UFC title challenger Chael Sonnen believes Jiří Procházka is producing a great example for other fighters when it comes to how not to handle a defeat.

    Just over two years on from his memorable crowning in Singapore at the expense of Glover Teixeira, Procházka looked to regain the light heavyweight crown in the main event of UFC 303 this past weekend.

    In what marked his second attempt at achieving two-time champ status opposite Alex Pereira, “BJP” once again fell short. While their first showdown at Madison Square Garden last year had some controversy owing to cries of early stoppage, there was no doubt about “Poatan’s” superiority on June 29.

    In the aftermath of his sophomore setback to the Brazilian knockout artist, Procházka released his first statement in the form of a video on his social accounts. In it, the Czech star gave an honest assessment of his defeat in Las Vegas, admitting that he either has to “evolve” or not return to the Octagon.

    While some have praised that mindset, one former fighter was not impressed…

    Sonnen Questions Procházka’s Focus On ‘Outcome,’ Not ‘Performance’

    During a video recently uploaded to his YouTube channel, Sonnen looked back on Procházka’s performance in Las Vegas and assessed his first post-fight statement on social media.

    “The Bad Guy” pointed to the former champ’s statement regarding the need to evolve, suggesting that usually leads to changes such as a team switch, which in turn signals the “beginning of the end” for a fighter.

    In simple terms, Sonnen described “BJP’s” remarks as the defeated light heavyweight “being a baby.”

    “Jiří Procházka, already talking to the fans, already doing some weird Jiří stuff, and I don’t know, man, being a baby. I don’t know,” Sonnen said. “I turned this camera on, I wanted to make a nice piece about Jiří. I haven’t met him but I appreciate him. And I recognize the incredible grit to that guy. I mean, a real tough guy. … He is not going to give up. He says he’s got to either evolve or he’s got to quit. It’s just a very interesting statement.

    “I do understand what Jiří’s saying…he’s talking about, you know, ‘I’m not going to settle in. I’m here to be champion, and I don’t have the skills and tools needed right now to deal with this threat,’ which is Pereira. … That’s a very dangerous game. In theory, that is absolutely right…it’s just an interesting game in practice,” Sonnen continued. “When you attempt to evolve, the first thing that traditionally happens is you leave your current situation. … It’s generally the beginning of the end. … You can’t, when you lose a contest, decide that that’s the time you’ve got to change things. You can’t be outcome-based. It’s a huge mistake. Champions don’t make it but the top contenders do. If you are outcome-based as opposed to performance-based, you’re really missing the number one philosophy that you need to be successful.”

    It remains to be seen when Procházka will look to get back into the cage following his latest setback to Pereira, or even if.

    Should he take time away and return once again in pursuit of two-time champ status, however, it stands to reason that the Czech star will do so looking to show new wrinkles and improvements to his game.

  • Ben Askren Says It Was ‘Clear’ Jiří Procházka Would Get His ‘Ass Kicked’ At UFC 303: ‘If You’re Starting To Worry About Witchcraft…’

    Ben Askren Says It Was ‘Clear’ Jiří Procházka Would Get His ‘Ass Kicked’ At UFC 303: ‘If You’re Starting To Worry About Witchcraft…’

    Former Bellator and ONE Championship titleholder Ben Askren believes Jiří Procházka’s violent setback at UFC 303 was inevitable owing to where his focus was during fight week.

    Procházka had his second attempt at regaining the UFC light heavyweight crown in the main event of the June 29 pay-per-view, which headlined International Fight Week in Las Vegas.

    Having previously had his pursuit of the belt he formerly owned stalled by Alex Pereira at Madison Square Garden last November, “BJP” was targeting redemption against “Poatan” at T-Mobile Arena.

    But the Czech star ultimately fell short once again, this time in a much more convincing and brutal fashion. After being dropped at the end of round one, Procházka was finished for good after being sent back to the canvas by a clean head kick in the second frame.

    While many were backing the challenger’s chances owing to the early success he had against “Poatan” in 2023, one former fighter was expecting the UFC 303 main event to play out as it did after seeing some of Procházka’s pre-fight remarks…

    Askren On Pereira vs. Procházka: ‘If You’re Worrying About Witchcraft, You’re Done’

    During a recent episode of his Funky and the Champ YouTube show alongside Daniel Cormier, Askren gave his take on Procházka’s suggestion that Pereira uses “spiritual things” and “magic” from Shamans to help him defeat his opponents.

    As soon as that reared its head, “Funky” believes it was game over for the challenger.

    “I hate it,” Askren said of Procházka’s focus on “magic” during fight week. “If you start talking like that, that is a clear sign you’re going to get your ass kicked. If you’re starting to worry about witchcraft, no, you’re done. You’re not going to win. I said it, I said, ‘Listen, if he’s worrying about witchcraft, this is going to be over quick. He’s going to get knocked out,’ and that’s what happened.

    “When you get that far, it’s a little too far. I said it, I hate this. I hate the fact he was thinking about this kind of stuff,” Askren continued. “(If you are), it’s probably over for you.”

    A video has subsequently emerged showing Pereira and Procházka embracing one another at the airport post-fight, with the champion clarifying his religion and beliefs to his defeated rival.

    “BJP” also made no mention of that pre-fight narrative in his first statement on social media. Instead, he took full responsibility for the defeat and insisted that he must evolve as a fighter or not compete again.

  • MMA News Today: Dricus Du Plessis Lands Verbal TKO To Israel Adesanya During Heated Staredown At UFC 305 Press Conference, Jon Jones Responds To Rumors Of ‘Spirit Channeling & Magic’ In MMA Following Alex Pereira Fight, & More

    Welcome to MMA News Today, a daily feature running down the most interesting stories in the world of mixed martial arts. For July 3, 2024, we’re taking a look at:

    • Du Plessis has the best reply to Adesanya jab
    • Jones gives his side of the story on the use of magic and spirits
    • Diaz knew his own value before taking McGregor opportunity

    Dricus Du Plessis Makes Joking Remark To Israel Adesanya During Heated Faceoff

    Dricus Du Plessis and Israel Adesanya came face to face once again during the press conference that went down yesterday, for their upcoming middleweight title fight.

    Before the two rivals meet at UFC 305 on August 17 in Perth, they shared an incredibly tense staredown that is sure to build excitement for their eventual meeting.

    Adesanya appeared to be the one to say something to Du Plessis first during the staredown which the middleweight champion was asked about after the press conference.

    He jokingly made remarks about something that Adesanya’s last opponent, Sean Strickland, also chose to make fun of throughout the build-up to their fight.

    Du Plessis referenced a video of Adesanya and his dog which appears to be a bit of a sore subject for “The Last Stylebender”, as was proven after the Strickland fight.

    “I think he said, ‘Don’t kiss me’, as far as I know. I said I’m no dog so I won’t and you know, I don’t really know what he was saying. I wasn’t really focused on what he was saying.”

    Jon Jones Says He Has Experienced ‘Spirit Channelling’ & Magic’ For Himself Following UFC 303 Controversy

    Alex Pereira and Jiří Procházka are two of the most intense individuals in the sport when it comes to fight night.

    Before UFC 303 got underway, Procházka spoke about how he believed “Poatan” was using the help of magic and spirits in his fight, asking him to abstain in their rematch.

    Whilst Pereira offered a classy response to this in his post-fight interview after beating the former champion, UFC heavyweight champ Jon Jones is the latest to weigh in on this.

    He posted on social media about how there is some truth to this based on his experiences of stepping into certain arenas and coming up against specific opponents.

    “There has been a lot of talk about spirit channeling and magic in MMA lately. This stuff is all very real. I felt all types of weird energies walking into those arenas. Looking certain opponents in the eyes. I want to let you all know that Jesus Christ is king, he is and always will be undefeated. Every knee shall bow.”

    Nate Diaz Reveals How He Negotiated A Much Higher Purse For His First Fight With Conor McGregor

    Nate Diaz has always been a cult icon in combat sports but UFC 196 was a moment that changed his life forever.

    The Stockton fighter became a huge name overnight when he stepped into the main event on late notice to fight Conor McGregor in one of the most iconic moments in the history of the sport.

    Diaz was well compensated for stepping up to save the day in place of Rafael Dos Anjos but he did have to put his foot down in order to get a much higher purse than was initially offered.

    He told MMA great Demetrious Johnson during an interview on The MightyCast how he knew what his own value was at the time and made sure he was suitably compensated.

    “At the time, it was (the biggest pay check I’d received). But they were trying to give me pennies for that too,” Diaz said. “I was like, ‘Yeah, right. I know what I’m doing here. I’ve been through it.’ I’d already been into it with the organization about that. So they called me and they were like, ‘Hey, while you’re going to do this, we’re going to give you a million dollars.’ I was like, ‘Hey, you’re gonna give me more than that.’

    “So I got like five times more than that because of that. I knew the game by then and I was like, ‘F*ck that,’” Diaz continued. “Remember when I was telling you about how if I fight every two months, I could be rich. That basic math attitude kind of f*cking times 10, times 100, over and over again. So I knew what it was with the whole money in the business and sh*t. I might not be educated but I’m not stupid.”

    Read more on the story here.

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  • VIDEO: Israel Adesanya Reacts To Longtime Rival Alex Pereira’s Knockout Of Jiří Procházka At UFC 303

    Former two-time UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya had a stoic reaction as Alex Pereira rendered Jiří Procházka unconscious.

    Pereira headlined this past weekend’s UFC 303 pay-per-view in defense of his light heavyweight title. The Brazilian, who previously held the belt at 185 pounds, was once again tasked with stalling Procházka’s pursuit of two-time status.

    While the finish of their first fight back at UFC 295 last November left many dissatisfied and bemoaning the stoppage as early, that was not the case second time around, as “Poatan” brutally knocking “BJP” out with a head kick and follow-up punches on the ground.

    As has become a common occurrence whenever he enters the cage, Pereira’s latest triumph once again had fans in the arena and at home on their feet yelling Joe Rogan-esque screams.

    But one man’s reaction was a far cry from that…

    Adesanya Reacts To Pereira vs. Procházka 2: ‘Damn, That’s Bad’

    In a video recently uploaded to his YouTube channel, Adesanya and some of his training partners can be seen reacting to the events that unfolded at the International Fight Week event on June 29.

    The Nigerian-New Zealander had a strong connection to the main event, having faced Pereira four times across mixed martial arts and kickboxing, defeating him once by way of KO last April.

    Since the pair last faced off, Pereira has flattened his opponents three times with his renowned power. With that, Adesanya was seemingly not at all shocked by Saturday’s finish and remained stoically reclined on his couch as “Poatan” floored his Czech counterpart with a head kick.

    “Damn, that is bad. Oh, that is bad,” Adesanya said in the immediate after of the finish. “This card was cursed”

    Much has been made about the potential of Pereira and Adesanya competing their MMA trilogy up at light heavyweight down the line.

    For now, “The Last Stylebender” has his sights set on regaining the middleweight gold and settling his grudge with another rival in Dricus Du Plessis, whom Adesanya has gone back and forth with for well over a year.

    They’re set to headline the upcoming UFC 305 event in Perth, Australia, on August 17.

  • Glover Teixeira vs. Jiří Procházka Moved to UFC 275

    Glover Teixeira vs. Jiří Procházka has been pushed back to UFC 275.

    Teixeira was originally lined up to face Procházka at UFC 274 on May 7, but Combate was the first to reveal that the bout will now take place in June. The reason for the change is currently unknown.

    The fight will mark Teixeira’s first time attempting to defend the UFC light heavyweight championship. The veteran fighter first earned the belt in October, securing a second-round rear-naked choke submission over Jan Blachowicz.

    That victory was his sixth consecutive victory. This winning streak dates back to 2019 and includes two previous main event wins.

    Procházka Given Teixeira Fight In Third UFC Appearance

    Jiří Procházka

    Prochazka is getting a title shot after just two fights in the UFC. The former RIZIN light heavyweight champion made his promotional debut in 2020, finishing Volkan Oezdemir in the second round.

    Procházka earned a big win last year, scoring his second victory. He knocked out former title challenger Dominick Reyes in the main event of a “Fight Night” card.

    Procházka is known for his explosive striking skills. He is currently on a 12 fight winning streak, with just one of those fights going the distance.

    Who do you think will win? Do you have Glover Teixeira retaining, or Jiri Prochazka claiming the belt?

  • Hill Explains Why A Fight Against Procházka Is A Promoter’s Dream

    Immediately after sleeping Johnny Walker in the UFC Vegas 48 main event, Jamahal Hill is already laying out plans for what would be the biggest fight of his career.

    Jamahal Hill once complained that the UFC was not promoting him as well as they are other fighters. With performances like what he turned in last night, he has done a fine job of promoting himself while making it harder for the UFC to not promote him to his liking as well.

    Shortly after the halfway point of the first round, Hill showed why he entered the bout as the favorite while putting to sleep any doubters that may have lingered, right alongside Johnny Walker.

    Now with back-to-back first-round KO wins and a top-10 ranking likely in his near future, Hill is already plotting his next move, not unlike other stars who masterminded their ascent into superstardom.

    The next phase of Hill’s self-rocketing push is facing another flashy KO artist and one who has captured the imaginations of MMA fans worldwide: Jiří Procházka.

    “Right now, like other than really the Jiří (Procházka) fight, not really,” Hill responded when asked of ideas for his next opponent during the UFC Vegas 48 post-fight press conference. “Nobody else is really, like, everybody else is tied up.

    “The reason I want Jiří so bad is ’cause I feel like that’s a fight that, like, from both ends, it would be a banger. It would be a banger. I think it would be promoted well, and I think not that many other people have that star ability. Like, I feel like I talk well, I feel like I dress well, I feel like I fight well, you know what I mean? So I feel like I got that swag, and I feel like he’s one of those guys, so, yeah.”

    It goes without saying that Hill’s wish is likely only plausible if Procházka were to lose his upcoming title fight against champion Glover Teixeira at UFC 274 in May. Should Procházka win, there would be quite a few potential opponents who are ranked higher than Hill that the promotion would probably select ahead of him.

    Still, Hill is climbing the ranks after another big KO, so if he is willing to fight someone not named Jiří Procházka for his next fight and earn yet another KO, then who knows, maybe he will get that dream fight that he’s looking for, whether or not “Denisa” possesses the light heavyweight gold.

  • Procházka Gives His Assessment of A Light Heavyweight Usman

    UFC light heavyweight number one contender Jiří Procházka has given his thoughts on the idea of Kamaru Usman transitioning to 205 pounds.

    Having long reigned over the welterweights, Usman reached another mountaintop last year. After closing the gap to Georges St-Pierre in the 170-pound GOAT conversation, even surpassing the Canadian in the eyes of some, “The Nigerian Nightmare” found himself in the coveted #1 spot in the UFC’s male pound-for-pound rankings.

    While his position in the GOAT debate, both at welterweight and across all divisions, is up for debate, not many could build a solid case to dispute Usman’s status as P4P number one.

    Since dominantly dethroning Tyron Woodley in 2019, the Nigerian-born star has gone on to defend the belt against Colby Covington, twice, Jorge Masvidal, twice, and Gilbert Burns.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CZb1zYVLjab/

    Having defeated the majority of top contenders before, and being set to continue his second lap around them in his next defense, expected to be versus Leon Edwards, Usman has considered pursuing success in other pastures and proving his P4P dominance.

    During a recent interview with GQ, Usman revealed that he once trained his aim on a potential super fight with Jan Blachowicz when the Pole was light heavyweight champion.

    “I was going to skip Israel (Adesanya) and go fight Jan at 205 (pounds),” Usman said. “Because I’m pound-for-pound, I want to prove it. No matter what weight it is, I thought he was a really good matchup for me.”

    Now, during a recent interaction with The AllStar’s John Hyon Ko, #2-ranked light heavyweight Procházka has given his take on how Usman would fare at 205 pounds.

    While he didn’t write off the welterweight titleholder’s chances, the Czech knockout artist was surprised to hear Usman’s confidence of how a matchup with Blachowicz would go and suggested his speed and power wouldn’t translate well to light heavyweight.

    “Man, Kamaru Usman? Woah. He will be the big challenge,” said Procházka. “I don’t want to think about Kamaru Usman as an opponent right now, but I think he will be not so quick in our division, and the power, too, will be not on the same level like in our weight. He’s two weights under us, yes? Yeah, so that will be the challenge for him and a little problem.

    “He will beat Jan, that’s what he said? Adesanya didn’t beat Jan, and he thinks he will do that?” Procházka added. “That’s a big and strong word, man. I’m not in his position; he defended in his weight many times and he proved he is a very big name in the fights, but this is very strong.”

    Procházka May Become Champion Before An Usman Arrival

    While he’s not interested in considering a potential clash with Usman down the line just yet, Jiří Procházka may be in a position to do so if he emerges triumphant in his next Octagon outing.

    Since arriving in the UFC in 2020, Procházka has lived up to his reputation; knockouts, elbows, crazy striking, and more knockouts.

    After sleeping Volkan Oezdemir on debut, “Denisa” met former title challenger Dominick Reyes in the main event of UFC Vegas 25 last May. In the second round of what many consider to have been an underrated Fight of the Year contender, Procházka brutally knocked “The Devastator” out with a spinning back elbow.

    Now, with an emphatic first impression and even more impressive sophomore showing behind him, the Czech star has cemented his spot as the next challenger to the throne. He’ll have his chance to win UFC gold at UFC 274 on May 7 when he challenges newly-crowned champ Glover Teixeira.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CZCzTFCvg-G/

    While a victory will likely lead to a grudge match with Aleksandar Rakić or a bout with former champ Blachowicz, Procházka may also have Usman’s name on his mind moving forward.

    Should both men continue their winning ways in the promotion, and should Usman and Adesanya’s reluctance to fight remain, perhaps “The Nigerian Nightmare” will be forced to climb to light heavyweight in order to find two-division success.

    If he does so, “Denisa” may be waiting…

    How do you think Kamaru Usman would fare against Jiří Procházka at light heavyweight?

  • Procházka Plans To Train With Three Former UFC Champs For Title Fight

    Jiří Procházka is planning on getting some outside help in the lead-up to his title fight.

    Jiří Procházka has secured his first title shot in the UFC. He will be challenging newly crowned champion, Glover Teixeira, in May at UFC 274. The Czech Republic‎ native has been looking for this shot for some time now and he is willing to do what it takes to be successful when that big moment arrives, even if that means changing up his training situation.

    Procházka spoke to CBS Sports about what he is planning for this training camp.

    “In February, I am thinking about and working towards preparation in America. Especially with Henry Cejudo and Jon Jones there. I want to go there and work on my wrestling. I especially want to take my wrestling to the next level. I’m really looking forward to that,” Procházka said. “I’m a big fan of Figueiredo. His style is great. It’s an honor to go there and train with these guys.”

    It is not crazy that Procházka wants to be a part of this group. Jon Jones is the former light heavyweight champion, and one of the all-time greats. Cejudo was a two-division champion and has now shifted his focus to work with other fighters and make them champions. Recently, he helped Weili Zhang in her fight against Rose Namajunas and Deiveson Figueiredo in his training camp before reclaiming his belt against Brandon Moreno.

    Procházka came to the UFC in July of 2020 and after just two wins in the organization, he has reached the point of fighting for the title. His prior fights have been mostly in Rizin, and he is undefeated since 2016. Just because Procházka is a newcomer to the UFC light heavyweight division doesn’t mean he is new to this game.

    “I fought ‘King Mo’ two times. The second time, when I defeated him in the Rizin title fight, I was a different guy than the first time he won,” Procházka said. “From that Rizin title fight to now, I’m five levels up. He can talk with [Teixeira] and give him special tips for me, but I think I’m another person. I’m a different person in character. I changed myself completely since that time. It doesn’t matter. If ‘King Mo’ will help him to be a better fighter, I’ll be glad for that. I want to fight the best version of Glover’s style.”

    Procházka’s ten last fights have all ended in TKO or KO. He is a finishing machine and now looks to make Teixeira his next target. Teixeira will be making his first title defense at 42 years old after securing the title from Jan Blachowicz in October.

    Do you think Jiri Procházka has what it takes to beat Glover Teixeira and win the title on May 7?

  • Glover Teixeira Lays Out Detailed Plans For His First LHW Title Defense

    Glover Teixeira is already planning his first light heavyweight title defense.

    Glover Teixeira is coming off his extraordinary win over Jan Blachowicz at UFC 267. The 42-year-old shocked the world and became one of the oldest fighters to ever win their first UFC title. Now that he is the champion at 205 pounds, Teixiera isn’t ready to slow it down. In fact, he is already planning his first title defense and even has a name in mind.

    “For sure in Brazil,” Teixeira told Sherdog. “It’s meant to be. I (said) right after my fight with Blachowicz…in a perfect scenario would be May for myself because I want to relax, enjoy this moment, and that was a hard year for me—hardcore, focused 100% for the fight. I want a few months off, a couple months off, and I want to get back (training) beginning of January….I told everybody May would be perfect time. And May is the card in Brazil. Who knows? Maybe it’s a possibility, and it’d be fun.”

    Teixeira’s win over Blachowicz was the 33rd win of his career. Many thought Teixeira might be heading towards retirement back in 2018 when he suffered his third loss in five fights, but the longtime veteran of the sport battled back to win his next five and secure his title shot. Now, with the belt wrapped around his waist, Teixiera would like to bring it back home to Brazil.

    He has previously mentioned Jiří Procházka as a possible opponent. Procházka is the #2-ranked light heavyweight, right behind Blachowicz, so he is the most logical option. He has been waiting out for his title shot, even though he has been called out by other fighters in the division, namely Aleksandar Rakić.

    Although Teixeira wants to wait until spring, that does not mean he will be relaxing the whole time. He is very involved with his gym and training other fighters as well. He was in the corner of his teammate Alex Pereira for his UFC debut. And even after he hangs up his gloves for good, he’ll most likely still be seen around the Octagon as well.

    What do you think of Glover Teixeria’s plan for his first title defense?

  • 2022 Could Be Jiří Procházka’s Year—Or Not

    We could see Jiří Procházka get crowned a new champion over the next year, although some questions give us hesitancy in that stance.

    It didn’t take long for Jiří Procházka to fly up the UFC light heavyweight division and become a title contender. And while we don’t know if he is next for a title shot at the moment, all signs indicate that he is on a fast track to getting a championship fight if he keeps producing the results he has made thus far.

    Procházka is still somewhat of a new name for UFC viewers. He has only fought twice since joining the promotion in 2020, including one main event bout. That’s certainly not to say he doesn’t have experience.

    Viewers of the RIZIN product from Japan have a better understanding of him. Before his UFC run, many witnessed him score wins over notable names Karl Albrektsson and Vadim Nemkov. Only 29 years old, the Czech Republic fighter has competed as a pro for nearly a decade and has over 25 wins.

    Procházka’s career started incredibly busy, fighting more than three times a year from 2012 to 2015. He continued to stay active in the following years, fighting two to three times a year in RIZIN from 2016 to 2019.

    However, his activity as a pro has slowed down since joining the UFC roster, only fighting once a year since 2020. So when looking at the contender, it might be best to judge him off his two most recent fights instead of observing older tape. When looking at his two fights in the UFC, there is a lot to address. Here’s what we know about Procházka, what we’re concerned about, and what we have yet to learn.

    Looking At Procházka’s Two UFC Fights

    Jiri Prochazka
    Jiri Prochazka (Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa)

    Procházka’s first two fights in the UFC showed his undeniable punching power. He displayed his ability to put away opponents with a wild striking style. However, he wasn’t a flawless fighter. In his UFC debut in 2020, Procházka scored a second-round stoppage win against a big name in Volkan Oezdemir. However, he got hit quite a bit along the way. He was visibly stunned by shots at times by Oezdemir but was able to work past those issues for a finish win.

    The issue of getting hit continued to show in his main event fight against Dominick Reyes in May. He was notably wobbled halfway through the second round by a left cross, forcing him to shoot for a takedown and fight a guillotine choke submission on the ground. Reyes was able to touch him, but to Procházka’s credit, he powered through and eventually overwhelmed the two-time title challenger.

    That fight also showed a side to his game that hasn’t been tested extensively in the UFC cage yet: his ground game. Although the fight was mostly on the feet, Procházka was taken down by Reyes in the first round quite easily. As was mentioned before, he also found himself fighting a choke after taking a desperation shot in the second frame.

    This could be a glaring issue if he were to face current UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Glover Teixeira, who has a clear talent for getting fighters to the ground and submitting them with ease. With that being said, his ability to defend wrestling and grappling hasn’t been tested more thoroughly by someone yet.

    What’s Next For Procházka?

    Jiri Prochazka
    (via Zuffa LLC)

    There’s good reason to believe Procházka could claim the UFC Light Heavyweight Championship. He’s explosive with his punches and hard to read as a fighter. But should you go all-in on the Procházka hype train? That’s a hard call to make.

    Like anyone ranked second in their division should, Procházka certainly believes he has a good case for getting a title fight next. But as it stands currently, we cannot confirm if that is actually what’s next for him, although all signs are currently trending in that direction. Therefore, it certainly wouldn’t be a surprise if he’s next in line. Neither would it be a shock if he’s next to have that belt around his waist.

    Do you think Jiri Prochazka will become UFC Light Heavyweight Champion in 2022?

  • Aleksandar Rakić Blasts Jiří Procházka For Allegedly Dodging Him

    UFC light heavyweight contender Aleksandar Rakić feels that a battle in the Octagon between him and Jiří Procházka is inevitable.

    Rakić and Procházka seemed as though they were on a collision course for months after the two of them have gone back-and-forth in the media. Rakić, in particular, has made his critical opinions of Procházka perfectly clear.

    Rakic has accused Procházka of ducking him in the past and is doubling down on those claims as he gets ready for his next appearance in the Octagon. During an interview with MMA Junkie’s Farah Hannoun, Rakić reiterated what’s next for him and is temporarily closing the door on a fight with Procházka.

    “Jiri, I cannot take this clown seriously you know. I don’t care about him. My focus is on Jan Blachowicz and on March 26 and I don’t care about this guy,” Rakić said. “I don’t care about him and this fake samurai sh*t that he’s doing and just focusing on Jan Blachowicz. My goal is to stay active and this was not so possible this year, but finally, I got the opportunity to fight again and that’s for the No. 1 contender to fight next for the belt.”

    As stated above, Rakić will be facing former light heavyweight champion Jan Blachowicz on March 26. Meanwhile, Procházka is widely expected to fight the newly-crowned champion, Glover Teixeira at a later date. He most recently dispatched Dominick Reyes in a UFC main event earlier this year.

    There’s clearly no love lost between Rakić and Procházka, and the two of them could meet sooner rather than later depending on how their next fights play out.

    Who do you think would win in a bout between Aleksandar Rakić and Jiri Procházka?