Tag: UFC 295

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

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

Jiri Prochazka and Alex Pereira

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:

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

Jiri Prochazka reveals staph infection ahead of UFC 295 title fight I could only train for one weekFormer undisputed light heavyweight champion, Jiri Prochazka has revealed he suffered from a nasty staph infection his left leg…

Jiri Prochazka reveals staph infection ahead of UFC 295 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 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?

Alex Pereira backed to make stunning heavyweight move after second UFC title win: ‘He has the discipline for it’

Alex Pereira backed to make heavyweight move after second UFC title win he has the disciplineOff the back of his spectacular second championship victory back at UFC 295 back in November, Alex Pereira has…

Alex Pereira backed to make heavyweight move after second UFC title win he has the discipline

Off the back of his spectacular second championship victory back at UFC 295 back in November, Alex Pereira has been backed to be “disciplined” enough to land a third championship at the heavyweight limit by his training partner and close friend, Glover Texieira. 

Pereira, a former undisputed middleweight championship holder, turned in a spectacular second round KO win over former titleholder, Jiri Prochazka at UFC 295 back in November, stopping the Czech Republic to add to his prior middleweight spoils, and become a two-weight champion inside just two years deep in his Octagon tenure.

And recently suggested as a potential candidate to fight Jon Jones in the future at the heavyweight limit by his compatriot, Fabricio Werdum, Pereira was tipped to even potentially stop the former pound-for-pound on the feet if they compete.

“I think ‘PoAtan’ (Alex Pereira) would do well at heavyweight, too,” Fabricio Werdum said “I don’t know if he would become the champion, but he has already won two titles. He has the skills to do it, but it wouldn’t be right off the bat. It would depend on who he woud have to face. I think it would be complicated if he faced Jon Jones.”

“Because he would take ‘PoAtan’ down, there’s no other way,” Werdum continued. “He could knock out Jon Jones, but you can’t compare them. ‘PoAtan’s striking technique is much better, but if the fight goes to the ground, it gets complicated. I don’t doubt him on anything, though.”

Alex Pereira tipped to make heavyweight move

And while he’s likely set for an extended stay at light heavyweight following his championship success, Pereira has, however, been touted as well enough disciplined to make good on a heavyweight leap.

“It’s all a process,” Glover Teixeira said of Alex Pereira fighting at heavyweight during an interview with MMA Fighting. “‘Poatan’ is a disciplined professional, and that’s why he managed to make 185 [pounds] in the first place. It’s not easy for anyone to do what he did. Few people can manage that.”

“I’m not saying few people can fight in the UFC, much less win the belt, but to do what he did, losing that much weight, not many can do,” Teixeira explained. “In the UFC, I’d say only 10 percent of the fighters can do that weight cut the way he did. It was very brutal, but ‘Poatan’ has the the discipline for it.” 

Would you like to see Alex Pereira make an eventual heavyweight leap?

Tom Aspinall walks back comments on Jon Jones’ UFC title reign: ‘I don’t think he should be stripped’

Tom Aspinall walks back comments on Jon Jones' UFC title reign I don't think he should be strippedInterim heavyweight champion, Tom Aspinall has claimed he misspoke when he urged the UFC to strip fellow division titleholder,…

Tom Aspinall walks back comments on Jon Jones' UFC title reign I don't think he should be stripped

Interim heavyweight champion, Tom Aspinall has claimed he misspoke when he urged the UFC to strip fellow division titleholder, Jon Jones of his heavyweight crown amid injury, revealing he now believes the promotion should not go as far as relinquishing him of his crown.

Aspinall, the current interim heavyweight champion, headlined UFC 295 back in November in a co-main event clash with Sergei Pavlovich, laying waste to the Russian with a first round barrage of strikes for a KO victory.

Initially, the promotion’s return to Madison Square Garden was slated to feature in a main event fight between the incumbent, Jones and former two-time champion, Stipe Miocic, until a pectoral tendon tear forced the former pound-for-pound number one from the main event bracket.

And in the weeks following his title victory, Aspinall, who has welcomed the opportunity to fight Ohio veteran, Miocic in an interim championship clash – before calling for Endicott native, Jones to have his other championship stripped from him.

Jon Jones issues warning to Tom Aspinall

Reacting to Aspinall’s encouragement for his stripped, Jones urged the Atherton native against calling shots just three years into his tenure with the Dana White-led organization.

“I’ve faced the absolute toughest competition this would had to offer for 15 years now,” Jon Jones posted on his official X account. “During camp for a title defense I sustained a major injury that required surgery for the first time in my career. Now I have newcomers requesting I get my championship stripped. Zero wins over legends, zero title defenses, and already thinking you can call the shots to Dana, that’s hilarious.” 

“In my 15 year career I have seen so many guys who are supposed to be the next big thing,” Jon Jones continued. “There’s ever only been one Jon Jones, never forget that.”

And in a sitdown interview with reporter, Chisanga Malata, British heavyweight, Aspinall told in the snippet how he doesn’t actually believe Jones should be stripped of his crown anymore.

“See, I said in previous interviews that Jon Jones should get stripped [of his heavyweight title],” Tom Aspinall told Malata. “I actually worded it wrong. And I don’t think he should get stripped because I think Jon Jones has done so much for the sport as it is that I think he maybe deserves [to keep the title].”

Would you like to see Jon Jones fight Tom Aspinall in the future?

Tom Aspinall apologizes to Jon Jones amid calls for him to be stripped of UFC title: ‘You’re right. Sorry’

Tom Aspinall apologizes to Jon Jones call for stripped of UFC title you're right I'm sorryOff the back of requests for UFC heavyweight champion, Jon Jones to have his championship belt stripped from him…

Tom Aspinall apologizes to Jon Jones call for stripped of UFC title you're right I'm sorry

Off the back of requests for UFC heavyweight champion, Jon Jones to have his championship belt stripped from him through his current injury, interim divisional titleholder, Tom Aspinall was on the receiving end of the Endicott native’s wrath overnight – since apologizing for his bellowing. 

Aspinall, who headlined UFC 295 at the beginning of last month, turning in a first round knockout win over Russian contender, Sergei Pavlovich, securing the interim heavyweight title at Madison Square Garden. 

The Atherton native’s feature on the card came on just over two weeks’ notice, with an interim title introduced to the division amid an injury suffered by Jones, who tore a pectoral tendon ahead of a slated title defense against the returning former two-time champion, Stipe Miocic.

And sharing his thoughts on Aspinall’s calls for him to be stripped of his heavyweight crown, Jones urged the British heavyweight against calling shots so early into his tenure inside the Octagon. 

“I’ve faced the absolute toughest competition this would had to offer for 15 years now,” Jon Jones posted on his official X account. “During camp for a title defense I sustained a major injury that required surgery for the first time in my career. Now I have newcomers requesting I get my championship stripped. Zero wins over legends, zero title defenses, and already thinking you can call the shots to Dana, that’s hilarious.” 

“In my 15 year career I have seen so many guys who are supposed to be the next big thing,” Jon Jones continued. “There’s ever only been one Jon Jones, never forget that.”

Tom Aspinall issues apology to Jon Jones

In his own response to Jones, Aspinall appeared to issue an apology to the former pound-for-pound number one, most likely in a tongue-in-cheek fashion.

“You’re right,” Tom Aspinall posted on his official X account. “Sorry Jon.” 

Who wins in a potential fight: Jon Jones or Tom Aspinall?

Jon Jones scoffs at Tom Aspinall’s calls for him to be stripped of UFC title: ‘You’re thinking you can call the shots’

Jon Jones hits out at Tom Aspinall calls to be stripped of UFC title you think you can call the shotsJon Jones has scotched calls from interim heavyweight champion, Tom Aspinall for him to be stripped of his heavyweight…

Jon Jones hits out at Tom Aspinall calls to be stripped of UFC title you think you can call the shots

Jon Jones has scotched calls from interim heavyweight champion, Tom Aspinall for him to be stripped of his heavyweight crown amid his period of inactivity through injury, claiming the Atherton native should not think he can already call shots just three years into his UFC tenure.

Jones, a current heavyweight champion and former pound-for-pound number one, was scheduled to make his return to the Octagon at UFC 295 last month at Madison Square Garden, with a pectoral tendon tear ruling the Endicott native from a championship defense against the returning Stipe Miocic.

As a result, the above-mentioned, Aspinall featured on the card in a short-notice interim title fight with Russian knockout artist, Sergei Pavlovich, stopping the division contender with a blistering opening round knockout win of his own.

And maintaining he would fight the above-mentioned, Miocic in Jones’ absence from the Octagon through injury, Aspinall made calls for the former two-time light heavyweight champion, to be stripped of his heavyweight title to boot.

Jon Jones fires shots at fellow UFC champion, Tom Aspinall

Taking issue with Aspinall’s requests to UFC CEO, Dana White – who claimed Jones would be fighting Miocic in his return to active competition, the former urged the British heavyweight to cool his jets on talk of forced relinquishing.

“I’ve faced the absolute toughest competition this would had to offer for 15 years now,” Jon Jones posted on his official X account. “During camp for a title defense I sustained a major injury that required surgery for the first time in my career. Now I have newcomers requesting I get my championship stripped. Zero wins over legends, zero title defenses, and already thinking you can call the shots to Dana, that’s hilarious.” 

“In my 15 year career I have seen so many guys who are supposed to be the next big thing,” Jon Jones continued. “There’s ever only been one Jon Jones, never forget that.”

Who wins in a future fight: Jon Jones or Tom Aspinall?