Jiri Prochazka has simply two losses underneath the UFC banner, each of which got here by the hands of reigning 205-pound titleholder Alex Pereira. After a questionable stoppage at UFC 295 late final 12 months, “Poatan” erased all doubt with a thunderous head kick of their UFC 303 rematch.
So what occurred?
“I believed Jiri was actually prepared going into this combat. We wouldn’t have taken this quick discover combat if we hadn’t believed he was prepared,” coach Martin Karaivanov instructed TN CZ Sport. “Every part was nice earlier than the combat. Within the locker room too. I don’t know what occurred. Jiri himself mentioned he wasn’t totally within the combat, that he wasn’t in a position to totally immerse himself in it, which was mirrored by his efficiency. We’re going to rewatch the combat, recap what occurred and alter our future coaching accordingly.”
That future coaching may embody a weight reduce to 185 kilos.
“Personally talking I see [middleweight] as a possible restart and a constructive step,” Karaivanov continued. “He’s additionally nonetheless at an age the place he can reduce weight to [185] comparatively effectively. We will certainly speak about it. It received’t be my determination, however a staff determination. Middleweight would make sense as a result of it will be a brand new begin, one thing new to concentrate on. A return to gentle heavyweight would make sense if and when it begins changing into troublesome for him to chop weight to middleweight.”
It grew to become troublesome for Pereira, 36, which is why “Poatan” now fights at 205 kilos.
Prochazka, 31, is prone to make his Octagon return in some unspecified time in the future later this 12 months, although it stays to be seen if matchmakers preserve him at 205 kilos or give “BJP” the liberty to alter weight lessons. To see what Prochazka could be up in opposition to in his new division, try the middleweight High 15 right here.
