Is Jiri Prochazka getting the first crack at newly-crowned light heavyweight champion Glover Teixeira?
“Probably, yeah,” UFC President Dana White told reporters at the “Contender Series” post-fight press conference last Tuesday night.
That might not sit well with light heavyweight contender Aleksandar Rakic, seated one spot below Prochazka at No. 3 in the official 205-pound rankings.
“If he’s getting the title shot why did UFC offer me two days ago to fight him for a No. 1 contender fight?” Rakic asked on Twitter. “Samurai my ass, and I am the one who is declining to fight? I don’t think so. The time will come when I cut that ugly Czech flag shit off his head.”
Prochazka (28-3-1) jumped out to a perfect 2-0 start inside the Octagon, thanks to back-to-back knockout wins over former light heavyweight title contenders Volkan Oezdemir and Dominick Reyes. In fact, “Denisa” was on location in Abu Dhabi as backup in case something happened to Teixeira or Jan Blachowicz before their main event title fight.
The Brazilian went on to capture the crown by way of first-round submission and Prochazka was not needed, though he did use his opportunity to pay a little backstage visit to Teixeira after the UFC 267 title fight.
As for Rakic (14-2), he bounced back from a split-decision loss to Oezdemir to defeat Anthony Smith and Thiago Santos; however, the promotion wanted him to run it back with Smith before an injury put “Lionheart” on the injured reserves.
Expect an official announcement on the future of the light heavyweight title picture in the coming weeks, if not days.