Jiri Prochazka made an interesting statement in a recent interview. He believes he can still defeat light heavyweight champion, Alex Pereira. ‘Poatan’ has defeated him twice while contending for the light heavyweight title. Nonetheless, the former champion is ready to try for the third time.
Despite losing to the Brazilian kickboxer twice, Jiri Prochazka recently revealed he has what it takes to beat Poatan if they fight again. Prochazka recently did an interview with the Czech internet news portal TN.cz. There Prochazka addressed his loss at UFC 303 to Alex Pereira and the possibility of taking him on once again.
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.
Jiri Prochazka on TN.cz.
Both fighters stepped in on short notice to headline the main event at UFC 303. Pereira dominated the fight and finally delivered a devastating head kick that put the Crezch former champion out. The fight lasted just two rounds. Pereira was unfazed throughout the fight having learned from his last fight against Prochazka at UFC 300.
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
In that interview, he also went on to name potential opponents he could face in the future. Jiri Prochazka is interested in taking on fellow UFC light heavyweights like Jamahal Hill, Magomed Ankalaev, and Jan Blachowicz as potential opponents he is interested in fighting.
Jiri Prochazka might move down to the middleweight division?
Jiri Prochazka secured the UFC light heavyweight belt in his third fight in the promotion. Now six fights into his career, the former champion might consider moving down weight classes to the 185 lbs division where his rival Alex Pereira was the former champion.
Jiri Prochazka might move down to middleweight (Image via Imago)Prochazka’s coach Martin Karaivanov recently did an interview with TN.cz. In that interview, Prochazka’s coach revealed that moving down to middleweight would give meaning as a new restart for the former champion. Even Prochazka had mentioned this idea in a previous interview ahead of UFC 303. The promotion would likely entertain this prospect after his 2 back to back losses against Pereira.
Jiri Prochazka’s coach says he may consider moving down to middleweight after his loss at #UFC303 👀
“Now [Jiri] might consider moving to another weight class… it will not be just my decision, but the team’s decision.
Middleweight would give meaning as a new restart. And then… pic.twitter.com/lmNGQUZvgu
— Championship Rounds (@ChampRDS) July 5, 2024
The middleweight is a busy division laid out with starfighters like Israel Adesanya, Sean Strickland, Dricus Du Plessis, and Robert Whittaker. It will be a competitive division for the former champion. However, team Prochazka does not plan to remain in the 185 lbs division forever so finding success in that division would boost the confidence of the former champion who recently had shared plans of potentially retiring from the promotion.
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