As the days tick by and we march closer to the highly anticipated UFC 295, the former UFC light heavyweight champion, Jiri Prochazka shared some choice words for his opponent, Alex Pereira’s overall repotaur of skills.
“I have to say, Alex, he’s not a good martial artist like on the ground, on the wrestling, but one thing he can do and knows what to do is his striking. It will be a pleasure to compete with him in the stand-up,” Prochazka shared with CBS Sports’ Shakiel Mahjouri. “He’s good in the stand-up but not good in wrestling and all these things. He’s too much focused on striking. He’s very good at that but on the other things, other styles, he’s not good. I am not too good of a wrestler to say that but I think I am better than him. Doesn’t matter. That’s my opinion, my stance.”
Jiri Prochazka Forced to Relinquish Title
For Prochazka this title fight will be the first time he returns to the Octagon since his all time fight against Glover Teixeira back in June of 2022. The former champion was forced out of his rematch with Teixeira due to a horrific shoulder injury that also saw Prochazka relinquish his status as champion. It was a choice that he didn’t want to make.
“One thing I have to say… it was not my idea to release the title but I agreed with that, Prochazka told Shakiel Mahjouri. “I confirmed that because I believe in myself that when I go to the cage again after all these things, I can take that title again. So, that’s why I did that.”
Alex Pereira’s Road to the Title Fight
For Pereira this fight will mark this third title fight inside the UFC, despite only having fought six times. In his most recent bout ‘Poatan’ defeated Jan Blachowicz to secure his rank at the top of the division. When Jamahal Hill injured his achilles and the proposed fight between Hill and Prochazka fell through, the UFC looked to Brazilian kickboxer to fill that spot. In addition, this fight allows Pereira a chance at avenging his coach and mentor’s loss to Prochazka on route to winning a UFC title in two seperate weight classes.
The two face off in a highly anticipated vacant light heavyweight title fight at UFC 295 on Nov. 11 at Madison Square Garden. It will serve as the co-main event to the heavyweight title fight between Jon Jones and Stipe Miocic.
Featured image credits to Embed from Getty Images
