There was nothing magical about this social media blunder.
Jiri Prochazka accused Alex Pereira of using performance-enhancing shamans ahead of their UFC 303 pay-per-view (PPV) rematch, which may have contributed to the Brazilian’s second-round knockout victory over “BJP” last month in Las Vegas.
It’s that line of thinking that frustrated former UFC welterweight Ben Askren.
“I hate it,” Askren said on his “Funky and the Champ” show with Daniel Cormier. “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 [before the fight], ‘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,” Askren continued. “I hate the fact he was thinking about this kind of stuff. If you think about that type of stuff, it’s probably over for you.”
Blame David Adesanya, who botched his “Poatan” counter-spell before UFC 303.
Prochazka, 31, admitted after the fight that he needs to evolve or find a new career. Perhaps part of that evolution includes a drop to the middleweight division. As for Pereira, who still dreams of heavyweight straps, his next title defense has yet to be announced.