UFC light heavyweight champion Jiri Prochazka still doesn’t have a first title defense locked in. Various contenders among the ranks of the 205-pound elite have put their hands up, including former champion Jan Blachowicz, but Prochazka’s manager, Tim Simpson of Paradigm Sports, told MMAJunkie that the most likely booking is a rematch with Glover Teixeira.
Glover Teixeira, of course, is the man who Prochazka defeated to earn himself the UFC light heavyweight title. Chief among Simpson’s reasons for a rematch is that Jiri Prochazka doesn’t feel like he performed at his best the last time he faced Teixeira in the Octagon. Another outing against the same man is his chance to rectify that mistake.
Prochazka’s Manager Says Glover Teixeira Rematch is Most Likely
“Nothing has been confirmed on who or when yet, but Jiri came out and expressed he wanted to fight Glover. And, of course, Glover wants the fight back from my understanding of what the UFC wants.
Jiri was really open to fighting anybody. We met with the UFC and Jiri was kind of like, ‘What do you want to do?’ It started trending toward Glover.
For Jiri to take that challenge again, it says a lot about him. He’s all about challenge. He says it: ‘What is my greatest challenge at this stage?’ I think that’s a fight that will happen, and we’re just kind of closing in on a date.”
Jiri Prochazka, from Tim Simpson’s perspective, was disappointed in himself within moments of winning the light heavyweight title. It’s a rare fighter that wouldn’t be thrilled to have a UFC belt cinched around their waist, but Jiri Prochazka possesses a rare mentality.
“Even in the direct aftermath of talking to him inside the cage in Singapore in the octagon, he was disappointed – literally 30 seconds after winning a world title.
He wasn’t happy with the performance. I think when it really sunk in, he was really proud of himself. As awesome of a fight it was and as much of the heart he showed, he doesn’t want to fight like that. He wants to be clean.”
Jiri Prochazka’s rise to the top of the UFC light heavyweight division did not take long. He earned the title in only his third UFC appearance, following an undefeated run with Rizin dating back to 2015. Prochazka is currently 3-0 in the UFC with three finishes, including the spectacular spinning back elbow he used to knock out Dominick Reyes.
Do you want to see Prochazka vs Teixeira? Let us know in the comments.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zGgufxetY3g
