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Exclusive – Jiri Prochazka looks back on his viral staredown with Alex Pereira at UFC 295

Jiri Prochazka and Alex Pereira delivered one of the most intense pre-fight moments in UFC history. On November 11,…

Jiri Prochazka and Alex Pereira delivered one of the most intense pre-fight moments in UFC history.

On November 11, 2023, ‘Denisa’ returned to the Octagon for the first time in nearly a year and a half determined to reclaim the light heavyweight title he never lost. Standing in his way was two-time GLORY Kickboxing world champion and former UFC middleweight king Alex Pereira.

It would be a battle between two of the most dangerous heavy hitters in all of MMA. As if fans weren’t hyped enough, the staredown between Prochazka and Pereira seconds before going toe-to-toe inside the cage sent shivers down the spines of every fan tuning in. The moment has since been reposted, retweeted, and meme’d millions of times.

Looking back at that viral staredown during a Lowkick MMA exclusive interview with Mike Owens, Prochazka offered some insight into the message he was trying to send ‘Poatan’ before they started slinging leather in front of 19,000 fans inside the world’s most famous arena — Madison Square Garden.

“Every moment before the fight is important because you’re showing your spirit,” Prochazka said. “You’re showing your strength before the world and I really like to watch my opponent. To see through him and show him that there is no place inside myself for anything other than pure focus and winning.”

In the end, it was Alex Pereira who saw his hand raised after scoring a brutal second-round knockout against Prochazka to claim the vacant 205-pound crown.

‘Denisa’ will return to the Octagon on April 13 for UFC 300 when he meets fellow top-five ranked contender Aleksandar Rakic. With a strong showing against ‘Rocket,’ Prochazka would likely put himself back in line for another shot at recapturing the light heavyweight strap.

As for Alex Pereira, there is no official date for his first title defense, but his next opponent is expected to be another former champion who was forced to vacate the belt due to injury — Jamahal Hill.

Watch the full exclusive interview with Jiri Prochazka below:

Exclusive – Jiri Prochazka ready to ‘realize the mastery’ in UFC 300 return against Aleksandar Rakic

Following his loss to Alex Pereira in November, Jiri Prochazka was determined to get back inside the Octagon as…

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 (@jiri_bjp) joins @LowKick_MMA reporter, @MikeOwensMedia ahead of his return at #UFC300, previewing his fight with @rakic_ufc — as well as reflecting on his battle with @AlexPereiraUFC in November.

Full Interview – https://t.co/ur31LNbuhM pic.twitter.com/9yw76Zl83n

— LowKickMMA.com (@LowKick_MMA) February 6, 2024

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:

Jiri Prochazka sheds light on nasty staph infection ahead of Alex Pereira title fight: ‘I could only train for one week’

Former undisputed light heavyweight champion, Jiri Prochazka has revealed he suffered from a nasty staph infection his left leg…

Former undisputed light heavyweight champion, Jiri Prochazka has revealed he suffered from a nasty staph infection his left leg ahead of his UFC 295 title fight with Alex Pereira back in November at Madison Square Garden, claiming he was only able to train for a maximum one week in the final month ahead of the bout.

Prochazka, the current number one ranked light heavyweight contender made his return to the Octagon in November at UFC 295, taking headlining honors against former middleweight champion, Pereira in the pair’s vacant light heavyweight title affair.

And suffering his first promotional loss, Czech Republic native, Prochazka was stopped in the second round by Sao Paulo knockout artist, Pereira in a TKO loss in New York City.

Already booked to make his comeback to the Octagon in April, Prochazka takes on Austrian contender, Aleksandar Rakic in a high-stakes pairing at UFC 300, landing against the returning Rakic in an all-European showdown.

Jiri Prochazka reveals staph infection ahead of UFC 295 return

Ahead of the bout, Prochazka has revealed that ahead of his fight with Brazilian favorite, Pereira, he was suffering from a rather nasty staph infection, which limited him to just one week of training in the final five weeks before their UFC 295 title headliner.

“I had a staph infection five weeks before the (Alex) Pereira match,” Jiri Prochazka told MMA Fighting. “It first started on my leg and spread to my ear. Due to this disease, I could only train properly for one week in five weeks.”

Winning undisputed light heavyweight gold back in the summer of 2022, former Rizin FF gold holder, Prochazka rallied to land a fifth round rear-naked choke submission win over Pereira’s close friend and former champion, Glover Teixeira in Singapore.

Who wins at UFC 300 in April: Jiri Prochazka or Aleksandar Rakic?

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Aljamain Sterling, Ji?í Procházka Among Next Fights Announced for UFC 300, More PPVs

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Jiri Prochazka makes offer to fight Aleksandar Rakic in Octagon return at UFC 299 in Miami

Former undisputed light heavyweight champion, Jiri Prochazka has offered to step-in for fellow former titleholder, Jan Blachowicz in a…

Former undisputed light heavyweight champion, Jiri Prochazka has offered to step-in for fellow former titleholder, Jan Blachowicz in a clash with the returning, Aleksandar Rakic – offering the Austrian-born contender a showdown at UFC 299 in March of next year in Miami, Florida.

Prochazka, a former undisputed light heavyweight champion, most recently headlined UFC 295 at the beginning of last month, suffering a second round TKO loss to former middleweight kingpin, Alex Pereira in the pair’s vacant light heavyweight title showdown at Madison Square Garden.

As for Rakic, the current number five ranked contender has yet to feature since he suffered a third round TKO due a brutal knee injury suffered against the aforenoted Pole, Blachowicz in the pair’s main event clash back in May of last year.

And slated to return to the Octagon on the main card of UFC 297 in January, Rakic was booked to take on Blachowicz in a rematch on the Canada card, however, the latter has been forced from the re-run through injury, and is set for surgery.

Weighing up a quickfire return to the Octagon following a recent welcome to Khamzat Chimaev to make a stunning light heavyweight divisional leap, Czech Republic favorite, Jiri Prochazka offered to fight Rakic in an all-European outing – receiving a slew of responses from the latter.

“You said February or March,” Aleksandar Rakic replied to Jiri Prochakza. “I accepted and offered you February 17th. Now you’ve gone quiet. Where’s your Samurai code now? Sign the contract, big boy, sign the contract. @jiri_bjp.”

Jiri Prochazka suggests UFC 299 for fight with Aleksandar Rakic

Suggesting a rescheduled pairing at UFC 299 in March – which currently features a bantamweight title main event rematch between Sean O’Malley, and former-foe, Marlon Vera, Prochazka welcomed the chance to compete in ‘The Sunshine State’.

“March 9 Miami?” Jiri Prochakza posted on his official X account.

Who wins in a future clash: Jiri Prochazka or Aleksandar Rakic?