Jiri
Prochazka is plotting a move to middleweight after Dricus Du
Plessis’ first title defense.
Advertisement
Prochazka claims to have been considering the move leading up to Du
Plessis’ UFC 305
main-event clash against former champ Israel
Adesanya in Perth, Australia on Aug. 17. According to “BJP,” he
would have stayed put at light heavyweight if Adesanya dethroned Du
Plessis, as he has the same management as the Nigerian-born Kiwi.
However, “Stillknocks” successfully defended his title with a
fourth-round submission win in an entertaining title bout,
hastening Prochazka’s planned move to 185 pounds.
However, Prochazka notes that the potential move isn’t due to him
having a size or power disadvantage at light heavyweight. While the
Czech has no problems staying a top contender at 205 pounds, he
just wants to challenge himself in another weight class.
“I’ve been considering that if Adesanya wins, I’ll stay in the
light heavyweight division, but if Du Plessis wins I’ll follow
him,” Prochazka said on his YouTube channel. “I’ll clear things up a
bit there and take the belt. But I feel good and strong in the
light heavyweight division even though the guys there are a bit
heavier. Almost all of them. So I have to say that I have no
problem physically or strength-wise, or in any way, with clearing
them out. But it would certainly be a challenge for me to go for
the belt in the [middleweight] division. And then move up, but I’ll
really let it flow and see how it unfolds.”
Prochazka suffered his second title loss to Alex
Pereira via knockout at UFC 303
this past June.