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Jiri Prochazka explains viral pre-fight ritual ahead of UFC 300 fight: ‘I’m not a psycho’

Inside the Octagon, Jiri Prochazka is one of the most intense fighters in the game today. Outside of the…

Inside the Octagon, Jiri Prochazka is one of the most intense fighters in the game today. Outside of the Octagon, he’s a peaceful man who strives to be the absolute best version of himself.

Before his incredible second-round knockout of Aleksandar Rakic in the featured prelim at UFC 300, ‘BJP’ was spotted standing alone outside of T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. User @OGICEY posted the viral clip on X, noting that the former light heavyweight champion was in the same spot for roughly 20 minutes.

Speaking with media members following his second-round finish against Rakic, Prochazka was asked about the video and what led him to stand outside the venue moments before his fight.

“Yeah, that was me,” Prochazka said at Saturday’s post-fight press conference. “That’s my ritual, which I’m doing before every fight.

“When you are peaceful and quiet in yourself and when you are really connected to yourself, to the best version of yourself, and when you know what will come, what is before you, one day or two days or a week, it doesn’t matter, you have to work on that every day. They name that the ‘law of attraction,’ so you have to just follow your vision in an honest way” (h/t MMA Fighting).

In the beginning, things looked rough for Jiri Prochazka as Rakic repeatedly peppered his lead leg with a bevy of brutal calf kicks. Undeterred, Prochazka continued moving forward, walking down ‘Rocket’ determined to add another highlight-reel-worthy finish to his resume.

The moment came near the two-and-a-half-minute mark of the second round when Prochazka blasted Rakic with a booming right hand that had his opponent reeling. From there, it was just a matter of time.

His unrivaled intensity and aggressive approach inside the Octagon have made Prochazka one of MMA’s most feared combatants. Still, ‘BJP’ does not mind if fans approach him to say hello while he’s out and about, even if it’s before a big fight.

“I’m not a psycho,” Prochazka said when asked about other people in the video who may have thought to approach him. “It doesn’t matter, we can talk, we can whatever, but there is a time when everybody wants to be alone with our things. That’s my kind of meditation.

“That’s something when I started at 16 years old in high school with these things, to watch my visions of my best version in this life and follow them. This was that video, when I’m doing these things, because when you really want something, it’s not you want something. That dream, that vision wants you too and your work is to stay courageous and take action. That’s all.”

Jiri Prochazka bounces back following brutal loss to Alex Pereira

The big win over Rakic at UFC 300 scored Prochazka a history-making $300,000 performance bonus. But for him, it wasn’t about the extra paycheck, nor was it about competing at one of the biggest events in MMA history. It was about redemption.

“For me, it was not too much about the event, but after my last fight in New York with Pereira, it was for me important to make a spark inside myself,” Prochazka said. “To show to myself that storm, that hunter inside myself, and I’m very glad for that. Very glad.”

Pereira went on to finish Jamahal Hill in the first round of their UFC 300 headliner, potentially setting the stage for a rematch between ‘Poatan’ and Prochazka.

But first, it sounds like Pereira wants to handle some business at heavyweight.

Jiri Prochazka lands stunning knockout win over Aleksandar Rakic in rallying win – UFC 300 Highlights

Former undisputed light heavyweight champion, Jiri Prochazka once more turned in a rallying win tonight en route to success…

Former undisputed light heavyweight champion, Jiri Prochazka once more turned in a rallying win tonight en route to success in his featured preliminary clash against Serbian contender, Aleksandar Rakic — landing a second round ground strikes TKO win over his fellow European in the pair’s grudge match at UFC 300.

Czech Republic native, Prochazka, a former undisputed light heavyweight titleholder, Prochazka, has been sidelined since last November, suffering a second round TKO loss to Alex Pereira in the pair’s vacant title fight at Madison Square Garden.

Jiri UFC 300 Zuffa LLC — Mandatory Credit: Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC

As for Rakic, the Serb had been sidelined since 2022, suffering a catastrophic knee injury en route to a TKO defeat against former undisputed champion, Jan Blachowicz.

And causing Jiri Prochazka massive trouble tonight in the pair’s potential title-eliminator at UFC 300, Rakic shut down the lead leg for the Czech light heavyweight contender with a slew of slamming low kick, appearing to severely mitigating his movement.

Jiri UFC 300 2 — Mandatory Credit: Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC

However, in the second round, former UFC and Rizin FF champion, Prochazka waded into the fire with Rakic time and time again, eventually finding the button on the American Top Team striker, sending him reeling and eventually to the canvas.

Jiri UFC 300 — Mandatory Credit: Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC

And in a messy scramble on the ground, Prochazka prevailed with a slew of ground strikes, forcing a stoppage win — before setting his sights on the victor of tonight’s main event title fight between former foe, Pereira, and incoming headliner, Jamahal Hill.

Below, catch the highlights from Jiri Prochazka’s knockout win over Aleksandar Rakic

THIS FIGHT IS INSANE!!!! #UFC300 pic.twitter.com/M4ekB4JLTP

— UFC (@ufc) April 14, 2024

Aleksandar Rakic again rips Jiri Prochazka pre-UFC 300: ‘You can’t become a samurai by reading a book’

Aleksandar Rakic is tired of hearing about Jiri Prochazka’s “fake samurai sh*t.” This Saturday night, April 13, Rakic will…

Aleksandar Rakic is tired of hearing about Jiri Prochazka’s “fake samurai sh*t.”

This Saturday night, April 13, Rakic will look to get back into the win column after going down due to a leg injury in the third round of his clash with former light heavyweight champion Jan Blachowicz in May 2022. This time, ‘Rocket’ will be tasked with trying to take out another ex-titleholder, Jiri Prochazka.

Shortly after their UFC 300 showdown became official, Rakic went on the record calling Prochazka a “clown” and denouncing the Czech’s affinity for the samurai code. “I don’t care about him and this fake samurai shit that he’s doing,” Rakic said in an interview with MMA Junkie.

Rakic echoed a similar sentiment while speaking to members of the media days ahead of the UFC’s next landmark event.

Aleksandar Rakic on Jiri Prochazka: 'I said he’s a fake samurai, because you cannot become a samurai after just reading a book.' pic.twitter.com/s381XkUr5w

— Oscar Willis (@oscarswillis) April 10, 2024

“I said he’s a fake samurai because you cannot become a samurai after just reading a book,” Rakic said at Wednesday’s UFC media event. “If you’re a samurai, you need to live [like] this for a long time and not for the last 2-3 years. So that’s why I said he’s a fake samurai.”

Aleksandar Rakic gunning for a uFC title Opportunity with a win over Prochazka

Aleksandar Rakic is 6-2 under the UFC banner, his lone losses being a split decision to Volkan Oezdemir and his injury TKO against Blachowicz. A win over Jiri Prochazka would undoubtedly be a feather in his cap, as it could put him in a position to challenge the winner of UFC 300’s headlining act between current 205-pound king Alex Pereira and challenger Jamahal Hill.

Prochazka looks to bounce back from his first loss inside the Octagon after suffering a second-round KO at the hands of Pereira in November. Overall, ‘Denisa’ is 29-4-1 in MMA, and 3-1 in the UFC.

Prochazka vs. Pereira (Aleksandar Rakic)

Check out Aleksandar Rakic’s full appearance at Wednesday’s UFC media day below:

Jiri Prochazka makes case for title fight with win over Aleksandar Rakic after UFC 300: ‘I deserve it’

Former UFC light heavyweight champion Jiri Prochazka has eyes set on a rematch with Alex Pereira should he be…

Former UFC light heavyweight champion Jiri Prochazka has eyes set on a rematch with Alex Pereira should he be victorious at UFC 300.

Following his first loss in the UFC, Prochazka seems as motivated as ever to progress his career and eventually regain his title. Despite being stopped by Pereira in November, Jiri Prochazka will return to action this weekend as part of the upcoming 300 card and will face No.5 ranked Aleksandar Rakic.

Jiri Prochazka eyes title fight after UFC 300

The winner will place themselves firmly in title contention and could potentially face the winner of Pereira and Jamahal Hill. This is ultimately the goal for Prochazka, but as he explained to The Schmo the 31-year-old is also gunning for a rematch against Pereira.

Jiri Prochazka reveals post-USADA drug testing ahead of UFC 300 they made us pull our pants down — Mandatory Credit: Zuffa LLC

“I’m happy to be back in this fast time,” Prochazka began. “I believe after the last fight, after the early end, that end of the fight, if I win [on April 13] — and I hope and believe I’m able to win, to handle that fight — I deserve the title shot. So let’s go for that.” (H/T MMA News)

“From one angle of me, I’d like to fight him, I’d like to fight (Pereira) next,” Prochazka continued. “But, it depends if he wins. It doesn’t matter. Like last time, for me it’s not too important to get the title back, but I want to prove the next step of the mastery on my way. That’s all (it’s) about; about the performance, about showing the best performance every time, and about the joy from fighting.”

Alex Pereira defends UFC 295 win over fading Jiri Prochazka I thought the stoppage was good — Mandatory Credit: Sarah Stier

Prior to his fight against Pereira, Prochazka had not been defeated since December 2015 when he was stopped by Muhammed Lawal. The Czech had embarked on a 13-fight win streak across RIZIN and the UFC, only going to the decision once during this time.

During such a run it would be hard to not build an image of oneself which would make a loss difficult to face.

A rematch between Prockazka and Pereira is really not the end of the world given the pairs habit of firefights which result in knockouts. The first fight never really caught fire like expected, maybe better luck the second time around.

Who would win in a rematch, Alex Pereira or Jiri Prochazka?

UFC star Jiri Prochazka recalls being lost in the freezing Las Vegas mountains for 18 hours: ‘I had frostbite’

Jiri Prochazka is known for locking himself in a pitch-black room for days at a time. However, the former…

Jiri Prochazka is known for locking himself in a pitch-black room for days at a time.

However, the former UFC light heavyweight champion nearly ran into disaster when he decided to go hiking through the immense darkness of the Las Vegas mountains in the dead of winter.

“I wanted to go to the Las Vegas Mountains, and I found some some top edge like Mount Charleston,” Prochazka told AllStar Sport. “So … I went there, and then I realized, I need some more better shoes, better jacket. So I went back, I bought all these things like ski shoes and a leather jacket, the Garmin watch, all these things.

“But what was wrong was that I didn’t watch the map well, because the map showed me it’s just [a hike] for a few hours, like maybe six hours. After six hours of walking high altitude, then I realized that I have to come back, or I need to hurry to the end. So I just decided to make it.

“It took me more than 16, 18 hours. And I forgot to take the light with me, because I thought it will be just for six hours. Then I got lost on this mountain.”

Jiri Prochazka lost his toenail due to frostbite

Fortunately, Prochazka made it back to his vehicle and returned home, but later discovered that his lengthy excursion came with an unfortunate consequence.

“I went back [home], and next day, I realized that my toe on my left leg is a little bit black,” he said. “So I had frostbite, and right now, I feel it’s completely healed, but it took my nails [falling out], and it took six months to [grow] a full new nail and to feel better balance in the leg.”

After coming up short against Alex Pereira in November, Jiri Prochazka returns to the Octagon on April 13 as part of the loaded UFC 300 card in Las Vegas. Hoping to get back into the title picture at 205, ‘Denis’ meets division standout Aleksandar Rakic.

Jiri Prochazka hits out at Aleksandar Rakic amid questions of samurai code ahead of UFC 300: ‘Man, shut up’

Former undisputed light heavyweight champion, Jiri Prochazka has hit out at incoming foe, Aleksandar Rakic ahead of their UFC…

Former undisputed light heavyweight champion, Jiri Prochazka has hit out at incoming foe, Aleksandar Rakic ahead of their UFC 300 clash next month – with the Czech Republic native urging his fellow European to keep his thoughts to himself when it comes to his thoughts on the samurai and bushido code.

Prochazka, the current number two ranked light heavyweight contender, has been sidelined since he headlined UFC 295 back in November at Madison Square Garden.

Featuring for the first time since he won undisputed gold in a stunning fifth round submission over Glover Teixeira, Prochazka was stopped with a heavy second round knockout loss to Alex Pereira in the pair’s vacant title affair.

Jiri Prochazka reveals staph infection ahead of UFC 295 title fight I could only train for one week — Mandatory Credit: Zuffa LLC

And booked to make his return at UFC 300 next month in Las Vegas, former Rizin FF champion, Prochazka takes on fellow European talent, Rakic in a potential title-eliminator.

Jiri Prochazka hits out at Aleksandar Rakic

Reacting to Rakic’s plans to exploit apparent “holds” in his own game, fan-favorite contender, Prochazka urged the Austrian contender to save his words and execute his intentions inside the Octagon inside.

“He’s (Aleksandar Rakic) a Serbian guy living in Austria,” Jiri Prochazka told The AllStar during a recent interview. “I don’t know him personally, so I don’t like to talk about him when you don’t know someone personally, you don’t know, you really don’t know. Every time I’m surprised when he’s talking about me [and] who I am. I’m not a samurai and all these things so, man, shut up. You know nothing about me, we will talk in the cage.”

“I never said I was [a] samurai,” Jiri Prochazka explained. “I’m just all the time speaking about bushido code and all these ideas from [the] samurai world and how it helped me to be the person as who I am and to live in this world and for me to have rules. I like the samurai attitude, to the fight but to the living to live a full life – life to the fullest. The samurai attitude is not – I’m using all these ideas and principles for fighting, for conflict situations for all these things and it’s not like I found that, it was already in me.”

Sidelined since for almost two years time, Rakic most recently suffered a debilitating knee injury in a clash with former champion, Jan Blachowicz in a main event clash back in 2022.

Who wins at UFC 300 next month: Jiri Prochazka or Aleksandar Rakic?