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Jiri Prochazka weighs up title fight with Dricus du Plessis next: ‘It would be a challenge’

Jiri Prochazka weighs up title fight with Dricus du Plessis next: 'It would be a challenge' Amid his sidelining from action, former undisputed light heavyweight champion, Jiri Prochazka has claimed a potential middleweight title run…

Amid his sidelining from action, former undisputed light heavyweight champion, Jiri Prochazka has claimed a potential middleweight title run may be on the cards next — particularly after Dricus du Plessis retained his title at UFC 305 against former champion, Israel Adesanya.

Prochazka, who still retains the number one rank in the light heavyweight pile, most recently headlined UFC 303 at the end of June during International Fight Week.

Suffering his second defeat to champion, Alex Pereira in their heated title rematch, Czech Republic striker, Prochazka was stopped with a brutal high-kick knockout.

And in the immediate aftermath of his loss, the former Rizin FF star weighed up both a middleweight drop in chase of a second Octagon crown — or a title-eliminator against fellow former champion, Jamahal Hill.

In his most recent victory, devastating knockout ace, Prochazka rallied to best Aleksandar Rakic with a stunning second round stoppage at UFC 300 earlier this year to boot.

Jiri Prochazka plans middleweight drop after UFC 303 title fighjt loss it would be a new start

Jiri Prochazka weighs up Dricus du Plessis title charge

And still undecided on his future amid links to an impending return to action later this year, Prochazka has welcomed the chance to take on Pretoria favorite, du Plessis for the middleweight championship.

“I’ve been considering that if (Israel Adesanya) wins, I’ll stay in the light heavyweight division, but if (Dricus) du Plessis wins, I’ll follow him,” Jiri Prochazka said on his official YouTube channel.

“I’ll clear things up in a bit there and take the belt,” Jiri Prochazka explained. “It would certainly be a challenge for me to go for the belt in the [middleweight] division. And then move up [back to light heavyweight].”

Winning 205lbs gold back in the summer of 2022, Prochazka travelled to Singapore where he toppled then-champion, Glover Teixeira with a stunning fifth round finish — defeating the Brazilian with a rear-naked choke stoppage — sans hooks, with the challenger down on the scorecards heading into the final round.

Jan Blachowicz wants Ji?í Procházka Next: “I think it will be a very good fight”

Jan Blachowicz thinks a fight with Ji?í Procházka makes the most sense. Blachowicz has been on the shelf ever…

Jan Blachowicz thinks a fight with Ji?í Procházka makes the most sense.

Blachowicz has been on the shelf ever since a July 2023 loss to Alex Pereira in the current light heavyweight champion’s divisional debut. After undergoing a pair of should surgeries, the Polish powerhouse is healed up and is hoping to make his return to the Octagon before 2024 comes to a close.

As for who he could find himself competing against, Blachowicz believes there’s only one man who fits the bill. Well, maybe two.

“For me, what makes sense is Hill or Procházka,” Blachowicz told MiddleEasy. “I think Ji?í is in a dark place right now. I hope that he will come back and we make this fight because I think it will be a very good fight, a very exciting fight. So if not Pereira, I would like to fight against Procházka, somewhere in Europe that will be very big here — in Poland or maybe in Czech Republic. It will be a great event.

“Of course, [Hill makes sense too],” Blachowicz continued. “For me, only Pereira, Hill, Procházka. I don’t (want) anybody else” (h/t MMA News).

Jan Blachowicz criticizes Khalil Rountree’s title shot

Despite the long layoff, Blachowicz still holds things down as the No. 4 ranked contender in the light heavyweight division with only Jamahal Hill, Magomed Ankalaev, and Ji?í Procházka sitting above him. Realistically, any one of those fights would make sense.

However, we can’t imagine many people clamoring for a rematch against Ankalaev after their lackluster title tilt in 2022 resulted in a draw.

Meanwhile, Alex Pereira is gearing up for his third defense of the light heavyweight title after smashing his way through both Hill and Procházka earlier this year. In a surprising twist, ‘Poatan’ will meet No. 8 ranked contender Khalil Rountree in the UFC 307 main event on October 5 in Salt Lake City.

Blachowicz, like many, was none-too-pleased to hear about Rountree’s opportunity to skip the line.

“With all due respect to Khalil but there are at least two higher ranked contenders who are ready to fight Poatan,” Blachowicz wrote on X. “He doesn’t need special protection.”

Jiri Prochazka promises fight news, calls for Jamahal Hill: ‘I will let you know soon’

Amid calls for a title-eliminator with fellow former light heavyweight champion, Jamahal Hill earlier over the course of the…

Amid calls for a title-eliminator with fellow former light heavyweight champion, Jamahal Hill earlier over the course of the weekend, Jiri Prochazka has now confirmed he should receive news on his next fight soon.

Prochazka, the current number one ranked light heavyweight challenger, has been sidelined since he headlined UFC 303 in a short-notice showdown with two-time foe, Alex Pereira during the International Fight Week event.

Jiri Prochazka reveals staph infection before Alex Pereira fight everything wasn't fine

And dropping his second career loss to the Brazilian star, Jiri Prochazka was felled with a stunning second round high-kick knockout – his second defeat to Pereira since their vacant title clash back in November of last year in Madison Square Garden.

As for Hill, the Illinois native himself has yet to return since he headlined UFC 300 back in April against common-foe, Pereira, dropping his own spectacular opening round knockout loss to the Sao Paulo finishing ace.

Jiri Prochazka eyes title eliminator with Jamahal Hill

And with both eyeing their way back to a title grudge fight with the former two-weight titleholder, Pereira, Prochazka has suggested he fight Hill next – hoping to land himself a quickfire return to action.

“I’m here in Perth, just came back from training and the event,” Jiri Prochazka said on his official Instagram account. “A really great event and fights. Congrats to all the winners – not just the winners, everyone. And about my next fight – I will let you [know] soon. Stay here, and now, let’s go for that.”

In his most recent win, Czech Republic native, Prochazka landed a stunning, rallying knockout win over fellow European favorite, Aleksandar Rakic at UFC 300 – earning himself a rematch fight with Pereira just months later on short-notice.

Receiving flak for his next Octagon walk, Pereira is slated to headline UFC 307 at the beginning of October, taking on surging challenger, Khalil Rountree – who is returning from a controversial anti-doping violation just earlier this annum.

Chael Sonnen ‘Fascinated’ By Talk Of Ji?í Procházka Dropping To Middleweight: ‘Procházka vs. Du Plessis? You Have My Attention’

Former UFC title challenger Chael Sonnen is intrigued by the possibility of Ji?í Procházka joining the division he formerly competed in. Procházka is currently just over a week on from his latest outing at the UFC 303 pay-per-view, which saw his second failed bid to achieve two-time champion status on mixed martial arts’ biggest stage […]

Continue Reading Chael Sonnen ‘Fascinated’ By Talk Of Ji?í Procházka Dropping To Middleweight: ‘Procházka vs. Du Plessis? You Have My Attention’ at MMA News.

Former UFC title challenger Chael Sonnen is intrigued by the possibility of Ji?í Procházka joining the division he formerly competed in.

Procházka is currently just over a week on from his latest outing at the UFC 303 pay-per-view, which saw his second failed bid to achieve two-time champion status on mixed martial arts’ biggest stage play out.

Having had his light heavyweight reign brought to an end by a severe shoulder injury in late 2022, “BJP” returned in competition for the then-vacant belt at UFC 295 last November. On that night, Alex Pereira exited the cage with the gold in his possession, completing two-division glory in the process.

With both subsequently recording wins at UFC 300 this past April, they ran it back on short notice after the June 29 numbered event was left in desperate need of a headline savior.

The Czech star answered the call and looked to right the wrongs from his first showdown with “Poatan.” But unfortunately for the former champ, he was soundly beaten second time around.

In the aftermath, a disappointed Procházka admitted he needs to “evolve” as a fighter or simply not compete any longer. Separately, his coach pitched a drop to middleweight following his man’s latest setback at 205 pounds.

That idea appears to be one that gets a former title challenger in both divisions off his seat…

Sonnen ‘Loves’ The Idea Of Middleweight Procházka

During a video recently uploaded to his YouTube channel, Sonnen reacted to talk of Procházka possibly testing the middleweight waters down the line, a move that the former champ himself has previously insisted would be doable.

While he suggested a divisional switch is not a necessity for “BJP” despite his two defeats to the current light heavyweight kingpin, “The Bad Guy” did point out a number of mouthwatering matchups that could await the Czech star down at 185 pounds.

“Ji?í Procházka’s coach suggests the former champion should move down to middleweight. … Well, I don’t want to take on that coach or his opinion because he is damn good and he created a world champion there,” Sonnen said. “I believe what he is offering, in front of everything else, is that it is not time for Ji?í to retire. I agree with that, fully.

“I don’t believe there is a meaningful difference if you become a world champion in a different division. … Ji?í at 185, that is completely fascinating to me. I love that idea,” Sonnen continued. “I really don’t want to see Ji?í vs. Alex Pereira (again). I didn’t really want to see Ji?í vs. Alex Pereira last weekend. That’s just not the one that I was itching for. But I tell you what, Ji?í Procházka vs. Du Plessis? You have my attention. Ji?í Procházka vs. Sean Strickland, vs. Izzy Adesanya, wow, vs. Robert Whittaker, woah, things just got really interesting. Ji?í Procházka vs. Khamzat Chimaev! Ji?í at 185, I love this concept, but I’m not bothered by the concept of Ji?í staying at 205.”

It remains to be seen what Procházka’s plans are for the future and whether he shares his coach’s view on a middleweight move next.

But regardless, the always entertaining “BJP” is already back to his unique and unorthodox training regime back in Czechia.

Read More: Magomed Ankalaev Reacts To Alex Pereira’s Interaction With Anthony Joshua: ‘One More UFC Champion Wants To Run To Boxing’

Continue Reading Chael Sonnen ‘Fascinated’ By Talk Of Ji?í Procházka Dropping To Middleweight: ‘Procházka vs. Du Plessis? You Have My Attention’ at MMA News.

Jiri Prochazka hopeful of third title fight with Alex Pereira after UFC 303 loss: ‘I know I can beat him’

Despite dropping his second career loss to Alex Pereira just a week ago at UFC 303, former light heavyweight…

Despite dropping his second career loss to Alex Pereira just a week ago at UFC 303, former light heavyweight kingpin, Jiri Prochazka remains confident of landing a victory over the Brazilian if they can share the Octagon for a third time.

Prochazka, who remains the number one ranked divisional contender off the back of his International Fight Week title fight blemish, was stopped for the second time since November by Pereira, who turned in his second successful title defense to boot.

Stopped with a hellacious second round high-kick knockout loss to the Sao Paulo native, Prochazka has been linked with a middleweight divisional move off the back of his UFC 303 defeat, however, revealed he had been battling with both a staph infection in the weeks ahead of his rematch with the Brazilian, after suffering a prior back injury.

“The last two weeks have been health-wise – even though I said everything was fine, it wasn’t,” Jiri Prochazka said. “This was manifested by staphylococcus, a spot on the body after a tick bite, an unhealed would on the leg, a crunch in the back after heavy lifting.”

Jiri Prochazka eyes third title fight with Alex Pereira

And weighing up matchups against the likes of former champion, Jamahal Hill, as well as surging Russian challenger, Magomed Ankalaev off the back of his defeat to Pereira – Prochazka has sights on a route back to the throne, claiming he can beat the former if they fight for a third time.

Jiri Prochazka vows to evolve or stop fighting after UFC 303 loss to Alex Pereira in statement — Mandatory Credit: Ian Maule

“I know I can beat (Alex) Pereira,” Jiri Prochazka told TN.cz during a recent interview. “I feel I have what it takes and I just need to unlock the right things to really win. I’ll let my next opponent crystallize. I’m thinking of names, there’s (Jamahal) Hill, (Magomed) Ankalaev, and (Jan) Blachowicz.”

Jiri Prochazka remains confident he can beat Alex Pereira, and mentions three potential opponents for his return:

"I know I can beat Pereira. I feel I have what it takes and I just need to unlock the right things to really win.

I'll let me next opponent crystallize. I'm… pic.twitter.com/W6ZKuLqOT6

— Championship Rounds (@ChampRDS) July 5, 2024

Do you think Jiri Prochazka can beat Alex Pereira if they fight for a third time?

Jiri Prochazka plays up potential fight with UFC star Jamahal Hill next: ‘I’m thinking of names’

Hoping to plot his way back to the light heavyweight throne, Jiri Prochazka has a host of names on…

Hoping to plot his way back to the light heavyweight throne, Jiri Prochazka has a host of names on his radar for his immediate return to action – namely fellow former gold holder, Jamahal Hill following his UFC 303 title fight defeat to common-foe, Alex Pereira.

Prochazka, the current number one ranked contender, headlined UFC 303 last weekend during International Fight Week, suffering a second career loss to the above-mentioned, Pereira in the form of a spectacular second round high-kick knockout defeat.

As for Hill, the Dana White’s Contender Series product has been sidelined since he lost to the previously noted, Pereira back at UFC 300 earlier this annum, in the form of his own opening round knockout defeat.

And linked with a long-mooted middleweight limit move off the back of his second championship fight defeat to Sao Paulo fan-favorite, Pereira, Prochazka may land himself a new start at 185lbs according to his head coach.

“Personally speaking, I see [middleweight] as a potential restart and a positive step,” Karaivanov said. “He (Jiri Prochazka) is also still at an age where he can cut weight to [185 pounds] relatively well. We will definitely talk about it, It won’t be my decision, but a team decision. A middleweight [move] would make sense because it would be a new start, something new to focus one. A return to light heavyweight would make sense if and when it starts becoming difficult for him to cut weight to middleweight.”

Jiri Prochazka weighs up Jamahal Hill in UFC return

And weighing up his future opponents at the light heavyweight limit at least, Czech Republic favorite, Prochazka welcomed the likes of former champions, Hill, as well as fellow European star, Jan Blachowicz, as well as surging contender, Magomed Ankalaev.

Jamahal Hill denies fouling Alex Pereira at UFC 300 I hit him in the hip and it looked like a low blow — Mandatory Credit: Jeff Bottari – Zuffa LLC

Jiri Prochazka remains confident he can beat Alex Pereira, and mentions three potential opponents for his return:

"I know I can beat Pereira. I feel I have what it takes and I just need to unlock the right things to really win.

I'll let me next opponent crystallize. I'm… pic.twitter.com/W6ZKuLqOT6

— Championship Rounds (@ChampRDS) July 5, 2024

Overnight, Prochazka also revealed he was battling a staph infection in the days ahead of his UFC 303 rematch with Pereira, as well as suffering a back injury during training.

Do you want to see Jiri Prochazka take on Jamahal Hill in his next fight?