McGregor congratulates Prochazka as new champ gets hero’s welcome on return to the Czech Republic
MMA

McGregor congratulates Prochazka as new champ gets hero’s welcome on return to the Czech Republic

The Czech star defeated Glover Teixeira to claim UFC gold in Singapore

By John Balfe - 14 Jun 2022

There’s a new man in town in the UFC’s light heavyweight fold.

Jiri Prochazka, 29, became the youngest UFC 205-pound champion since Jon Jones at Saturday’s UFC 275 event in Singapore, sinking in a late rear-naked choke to claim a sensational win in one of the more dramatic title fights in recent memory — and fight fans in Prochazka’s native Czech Republic were more than delighted to celebrate their champ when he returned on Monday.

Prochazka was greeted by thousands of his countrymen at a public event to celebrate his achievement, with footage of the homecoming captured and shared around social media.

The footage was also noted by Conor McGregor, who had congratulated Prochazka online on his win. The Czech is a recent signing to the Paradigm Sports Management group to which McGregor has several links.

Paradigm’s Sports NEWEST! And the Czech Republic’s FIRST! UFC World Champion! The indomitable samurai [Jiri Prochazka]! What a fight! What a performance! Huge congrats,” wrote McGregor on his Twitter page.

“All I got was a howya from Mary in baggage claim,” joked McGregor of the massive crowd which greeted Prochazka. “Huge congrats to the Czech Republic and to my Paradigm Sports stablemate.”

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