Jiri Prochazka is ready to hand Alex Pereira the same fate as his mentor.
Former champion Prochazka (29-3-1 MMA, 3-0 UFC) and newly minted light heavyweight contender Pereira (8-2 MMA, 5-1 UFC) will square off for the vacant title next.
Prochazka looks to reclaim the 205-pound belt, whereas Pereira emerged as a top contender after win vs. champion Jan Blachowicz at UFC 291. Prochazka’s title win came in a submission over Glover Teixeira, and he plans on doing the same to former middleweight champ Pereira if the opportunity presents itself.
“I think he has one of the best striking (games) at middleweight,” Prochazka told The AllStar on Pereira. “Light heavyweight, we will see. I’m ready. Like every time. I will do everything for the win. If I will have to change myself… I will do that. Like Glover, if I have to choke him, I will choke him. It doesn’t matter. That’s (what) fighting’s about, to adjust.”
Although Prochazka alluded to not being 100 percent impressed by Pereira’s performance against Blachowicz, he understands why the Brazilian is on the fast track to a title shot.
“He was on top in the middleweight, so I think he deserves some top position in light heavyweight,” Prochazka said. “He defeated Jan Blachowicz. It was not 100 percent for that, but OK, he defeat him so here is the title fight.”
Prochazka hopes his title fight with Pereira materializes before the end of the year, after taking an adequate amount of time to recover his shoulder.
“We speak about the date with the UFC, and I hope it will be this year,” Prochazka said. “Maybe October, November, December, something like that. So, I’m really glad and really grateful that I had enough time, and I still have enough time to totally recover myself. That’s my promise, to show my best version in the cage. Every time. It’s about evolution.”
