Jiri Prochazka needs to change into UFC mild heavyweight champion for a second time, and whereas simply undertaking that aim could be significant, with the ability to defeat the person who stopped him twice could be every little thing.
Prochazka is booked to face fellow-former champ Jamahal Hill in a highly-anticipated conflict at UFC 311 on Jan 18 in Los Angeles. Each fighters not too long ago have been stopped by present champ Alex Pereira earlier within the 12 months, with Prochazka struggling the destiny for the second time in lower than a 12 months at UFC 303 in June. “BJP” needs to place that evening behind him, however he was ready to remove plenty of worthwhile classes from that loss.
“I took the most effective from that,” Prochazka advised MMA Preventing. “It was not an excessive amount of about like that efficiency within the evening, however in regards to the preparation for that struggle and I needed to change many, many issues. So the previous couple of months, I actually labored on that, what to, what to do, what to not do, what to not repeat. So right here I’m and prepared for the subsequent struggle.
“Each loss, each win is the principle level of the profession. So each battle, doesn’t matter if it’s a win. Win or lose, there may be all the time the prospect to take the most effective from that have from each struggle.”
Prochazka captured the title in one of many best UFC title fights in historical past, submitting Glover Teixeira within the fifth spherical at UFC 275 in June 2022. The previous RIZIN star didn’t get the prospect to defend it as an damage forward of his scheduled rematch with Teixeira at UFC 282 six months later led to Prochazka — because the UFC put it — vacating the title, which coincidentally, was received by Hill at UFC 283 a month later.
As a result of Hill ended up vacating the belt because of his personal damage, Prochazka stepped in to face Pereira for the vacant title at UFC 295 in November 2023, and was stopped within the second spherical.
As historical past has proven, the probabilities Prochazka can earn a 3rd struggle with Pereira whereas “Poatan” remains to be champion appears near-impossible. Nevertheless, Prochazka believes a win over Hill may get him that probability, and that it simply is likely to be his future.
“You recognize, possibly I’ll sound loopy or no matter, however imagine me, I’m engaged on [once again becoming] the champion,” Prochazka defined. “[The] champion proper now could be Alex. However proper now, I’m focusing [on] what’s earlier than me. What’s the subsequent step? Proper now, it’s Jamahal Hill. Subsequent, we are going to see who would be the champion.
“If that shall be Alex, for me proper now — if there shall be a questions in regards to the struggle with Alex — that shall be for me, actually, the struggle for my life.”
For Prochazka, a second title reign could be the primary time to do it the appropriate approach. After the all-time warfare with Teixeira, Prochazka simply believed that being UFC champion was a part of the plan, however he didn’t get to benefit from the second like he ought to have.
If he will get to have Dana White wrap that championship belt round his waist as a two-time titleholder, Prochazka guarantees he’ll stick with it that custom as champion the best way he was speculated to.
“Possibly first time, once I received, I didn’t actually notice that it was a giant, a giant factor in my life, and I used to be not so — like I say — grateful for that,” Prochazka mentioned. “I took that like, routinely, I would be the champion. OK, I’m the champion, and that’s all, yeah. I [didn’t have] these emotions to be humble, grateful in that.
“So I mentioned to myself, ‘I wish to go this manner yet one more time,’ not only one extra time, however I wish to go there, take this belt, take that place of the most effective man within the mild heavyweight [division], and yet one more time, however grateful. Be humble. And actually recognize that second. Actually recognize the life that gave you this opportunity to struggle for that once more. And proper now, I’m on this course of. That is what I really feel proper now.”
