Tag: Jiri Prochazka

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.

Following his loss to Alex Pereira in November, Jiri Prochazka was determined to get back inside the Octagon as fast as possible, regardless of opponent.

On April 13, ‘Denisa’ will look to climb back into the title picture at 205 when he meets No. 5 ranked contender Aleksandar Rakic at UFC 300 in Las Vegas. The fight will come five months removed from Prochazka’s devastating second-round knockout at the hands of ‘Poatan’ at the promotion’s 30th-anniversary event last year in Madison Square Garden.

Speaking with Mike Owens in a LowKick MMA exclusive interview, Prochazka — the division’s No. 2 ranked contender — explained that after coming up short in his last outing, he was eager to climb back in the cage. Rakic just happened to be the fighter who was ready, willing, and able to serve as the former champ’s dance partner on fight night.

“I don’t care about what the right fight is for me,” Prochazka said. “I wanted to be back as soon as possible and Alexander was the first one who was free from the top five guys at light heavyweight. So I called him about the fight.”

Jiri Prochazka Dubs Aleksandar Rakic a ’50/50 Fighter’

Aleksandar Rakic will be looking to bounce back after suffering a leg injury in the third round of his May 2022 clash with Jan Blachowicz. They were scheduled to run it back at UFC 297 last month, but Blachowicz underwent shoulder surgery, forcing him out of the bout.

‘Rocket’ goes into the contest with a 14-3 overall record, 6-2 under the UFC banner. Rakic has established himself as a bit of a knockout artist in his career, finishing nine of his opponents via KO, including Devin Clark and Jimi Manuwa inside the Octagon.

“He’s a 50/50 fighter,” Prochazka said of his UFC 300 opponent. “He’s a good wrestler. A really strong guy I think. His standup is not the best, but like I said, he’s 50/50. Good striker. Good wrestler and I’m ready for both.”

Prochazka’s loss to Alex Pereira snapped a 13-fight win streak dating back to 2016. It was also his first fight in 17 months, but ‘Denisa’ is making no excuses for his performance. Instead, he sees it as another opportunity to evolve his skill set and put his MMA mastery on display in his next outing.

“I want to realize the mastery,” he said. “Not just in the training. Not just in the daily life. Repeat, repeat. Be better. Be better, but in the cage. To show it in the cage. That’s what I want to show.”

Watch the full exclusive interview with Jiri Prochazka below: