Jiri Prochazka needs the sunshine heavyweight title, and he doesn’t care who he has to undergo.
After developing brief towards reigning champion Alex Pereira twice, Prochazka seemed to be caught in a clumsy place inside the division. That was till he scored an epic come-from-behind KO towards Khalil Rountree Jr. at UFC 320. The win seemingly has everybody chomping on the bit to see ‘BJP’ struggle for gold once more.
Nevertheless, if he does, it’s unlikely to be through a trilogy struggle towards Pereira.
After ‘Poatan’ reclaimed the 205-pound crown with a stellar 80-second knockout of Magomed Ankalaev, the Brazilian boogeyman appears lifeless set on a transfer to heavyweight.
Likelihood is, Pereira had his sights set on going through the winner of Tom Aspinall vs. Ciryl Gane, however after their bout led to an unlucky no-contest at UFC 321, Pereira appears to have pivoted to a long-rumored conflict with one other former two-division titleholder, Jon Jones.
If Pereira vs. Jones does come to fruition, Prochazka believes he ought to be one of many two competing for the vacant mild heavyweight belt in 2026.
“It’s a giant risk about this struggle, however I don’t assume so if the UFC will agree with that,” Prochazka informed Bloody Elbow whereas discussing a possible third assembly with Pereira. And the second factor, he’s going to heavyweight, so I feel he must launch the title.
“I don’t know, I don’t actually care what shall be his subsequent transfer. Like I mentioned, I need to struggle for the title, and proper now I don’t care if it’s Alex Pereira, Ulberg, or Ankalaev. If that shall be for the title, let’s go for that.”
