Jiri Prochazka has simply two losses beneath 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 really prepared going into this struggle. We wouldn’t have taken this quick discover struggle if we hadn’t believed he was prepared,” coach Martin Karaivanov instructed TN CZ Sport. “All the pieces was nice earlier than the struggle. Within the locker room too. I don’t know what occurred. Jiri himself stated he wasn’t totally within the struggle, 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 struggle, recap what occurred and alter our future coaching accordingly.”
That future coaching might embrace a weight minimize 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 minimize weight to [185] comparatively nicely. We will certainly speak about it. It received’t be my choice, however a group choice. Middleweight would make sense as a result of it might be a brand new begin, one thing new to deal with. A return to mild heavyweight would make sense if and when it begins changing into tough for him to chop weight to middleweight.”
It turned tough for Pereira, 36, which is why “Poatan” now fights at 205 kilos.
Prochazka, 31, is more likely to make his Octagon return sooner or later later this 12 months, although it stays to be seen if matchmakers preserve him at 205 kilos or give “BJP” the liberty to vary weight lessons. To see what Prochazka could be up in opposition to in his new division, take a look at the middleweight Prime 15 right here.
