Following his bounce-back win over Aleksandr Raki? at UFC 300, Ji?í Procházka made the claim that competing at the weight class below could be an option for him in the near future.
He said that going into his fight in April, he didn’t have much weight to cut in order to make the light heavyweight limit, which made him confident of dropping to middleweight at some stage.
Procházka told Michael Bisping in an interview that it was something he was thinking about as a way to further challenge himself, even after the former middleweight champion warned him of how tough the weight cut may be.
“So, good food with some good diet for me, I think 84 kilos, middleweight will be no problem. I’m still thinking about that, how I can feel with these guys in middleweight because I know I can do that.
“I’m looking forward to that because I want to try more clear foods in preparation because I really know how to work with my body, with that weight, and I feel it can be good.”
Ji?í Procházka’s Coach Says Middleweight Would Give Them A ‘New Start’ Post-UFC 303
Moving to middleweight looks to be back in contention for Procházka after he was unable to reclaim the light heavyweight title this past weekend at UFC 303 in a rematch with Alex Pereira.
Many were critical of his approach to the fight, with the former champion also stating that he would need to go back and work on becoming a new version of himself if he was going to continue fighting.
His coach, Martin Karaivanov, spoke in an interview with TN CZ Sport about how this could mean moving to middleweight in order to begin a new chapter of his career.
“Personally speaking, I see [middleweight] as a potential restart and a positive step,” Karaivanov said (translated by MMA Mania). “He is also still at an age where he can cut weight to [185] relatively well. We will definitely talk about it. It won’t be my decision, but a team decision.
“Middleweight would make sense because it would be a new start, something new to focus on. A return to light heavyweight would make sense if and when it starts becoming difficult for him to cut weight to middleweight.”
Having admitted that he either needs to evolve as a fighter or not return to competition following a second setback at the hands of “Poatan,” perhaps “BJP” will look to do so down at 185 pounds in pursuit of becoming the promotion’s latest double champ.
Continue Reading Coach Hints At Major Career Change For Ji?í Procházka After UFC 303 Defeat: ‘A Potential Restart…’ at MMA News.