At the beginning of this month, Jiri Prochazka had a sterling sophomore appearance in the UFC, knocking out Dominick Reyes in the main event of UFC Vegas 25 with a spinning back elbow. The finish was immediately lauded as a Knockout of the Year contender and vaulted Prochazka up to third in the UFC light heavyweight rankings. But for as great a showing as it was, the former KSW light heavyweight champion was not as excited about his performance as everyone else was.
“I’m enjoying what I’m doing, the show and the movement, but my idea of fighting is to be the master of fighting,” Prochazka told RT Sport recently. “ That’s something because the true master is in a fight for (only) the time what is necessary. That was not the master with Dominick. That was a war. That was a war and I don’t like it.”
Prochazka may be the only person that didn’t like it. Given Reyes’ reputation as the man who arguably beat Jon Jones (Reyes lost a highly controversial decision to Jones) following the win last Saturday, fans tapped Prochazka to fight for the light heavyweight title next. However, while Prochazka is gunning for a title shot soon, he made it clear that he does not ascribe to that same line of thinking with regard to Jones’ close call against Reyes.
“If you want to take a title, you need to beat the holder of title definitively, like KO or TKO,” Prochazka said. “Dominick didn’t do that so I think that fight was close but it was right (for) Jones to win that fight between Reyes and Jones. But his performance in this fight was much better than Jones but to be the champion you need to knock him down because Jon Jones win all the fights just with some little active and with great defense and just controlling the movement, nothing else.”
But though Prochazka doesn’t believe Reyes beat Jones, he himself would love an opportunity to face off against the greatest light heavyweight of all time, if someday that might be in the cards.
“He’s the king of the light heavyweight division,” Prochazka said of Jones. “I think he would be the greatest opponent of the light heavyweight division for me. But he’s now in heavyweight, so what now. So yeah, I’m a little bit, not sorry, I’m not sorry for that, but I think when he will be in light heavyweight that will be more dangerous for everybody.”
Unfortunately for Prochazka, Jones has made a concerted effort to add size and move up to heavyweight and has showed little interest in returning the stomping grounds he once lorded over, for now at least. And while Prochazka has not ruled out the possibility of moving up to heavyweight eventually, for now the new kid on the block will be content with a title fight against light heavyweight champion Jan Blachowicz.
“I’m looking for the toughest fighters,” Prochazka said. “The toughest fighters, the first one was Volkan (Oezdemir) and I think he is great but there is a better opponent before him. Dominick was one of the greatest opponents in light heavyweight division, I think. His style is very unique and very dangerous. And the next one I think, now, is Blachowicz. That’s what I’m looking for now.”
Results. Marina Rodriguez outlasts Michelle Waterson at UFC Vegas 26.
Results. Sergio Pettis out-strikes Juan Archuleta to win bantamweight title, Anthony Johnson scores KO in debut at Bellator 258.
Cowboy. Donald Cerrone ‘heartbroken’ after latest loss but he will return: ‘I couldn’t let my legacy end like this’.
Recovery. Geoff Neal plans to ‘take some time away’ to deal with serious health issues after suffering second straight loss.
Boxing. Canelo Alvarez adds WBO super middleweight title to collection after Billy Joe Saunders fails to get off the stool in the eighth.
UFC Vegas 26 Post Show.
UFC 262 Countdown.
Best finishes of April on UFC Fight Pass.
That fight would be awesome.
On To The Next One. Matches to make following UFC Vegas 26.
Severe MMA. Discussing UFC Vegas 26, Bellator, and UFC 262.
Respect.
I’m extremely confident Conor is not the best fisherman in MMA but the last one is great.
This Gregor Gillespie cat is no way in hell the best fisherman in MMA.
Not even fuckin close!— Conor McGregor (@TheNotoriousMMA) May 9, 2021
Also, Conor firing off a few other shady Tweets.
I could make weight and fight this week.
Last time we had almost 3 days post weigh in to the actual fight. Plus an early morning start.
This time we’ll have just over 24hrs plus a night time start.
Both favour me massively.
Very excited to return to Las Vegas! https://t.co/wrDkXbzUFq— Conor McGregor (@TheNotoriousMMA) May 9, 2021
Truth.
Imagine if you could piece together a fighter named Conor McGregor Gillespie. Nobody would beat him.
— Din Thomas (@DinThomas) May 9, 2021
Beef.
I heard you already said no, looks like we got someone but I’ll keep calling you out when I need a new dance partner https://t.co/DdVyhZQ8xT
— Angela Hill (@AngieOverkill) May 9, 2021
Said no? I wasn’t asked, I was volunteering. But ok, glad you got a fight.
— Tecia Torres (@TeciaTorres) May 9, 2021
The man knows how to throw strikes.
Not a title anyone is going to fight over.
I don’t know who’s the best fisherman in mma, but I think I’m the worst can still kick your ass though Gregor pic.twitter.com/TCOIC1jAJr
— Rafael “Ataman” Fiziev (@RafaelFiziev) May 9, 2021
Did not anticipate this in 2021.
You’re funny I remember dana getting mad at me for not finishing you every time I hurt you. You were a sparing partner I was trying to be nice. But yes I’m sure I was lucky I never fought you because you were obviously the best guy out there https://t.co/rZ57KTM5tw
— Chuck Liddell (@ChuckLiddell) May 10, 2021
Busy.
That’s a hell of a photo.
King.
Ian Heinisch (14-4) vs. Nassourdine Imavov (9-3); UFC Fight Night, July 24.
Chase Sherman (15-7) vs. Parker Porter (11-6); UFC Fight Night, Aug. 21.
Sara McMann (12-6) vs. Ketlen Vieira (11-2); UFC Fight Night, Aug. 28.
Thanks for reading and see y’all tomorrow.
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