Former UFC light heavyweight champion Jiri Prochazka finds himself at something of a crossroads.
The Czech fighter entered the UFC in May 2021 with a stellar record of 27-3-1 and in the midst of a near decade-long unbeaten run in mixed martial arts. Such was the fanfare over Prochazka, he was awarded a title bout after just two UFC wins — and used that opportunity to score a come-from-behind rear-naked choke win over then-champ Glover Teixeira.
His reign atop the UFC’s 205-pound division would not last long but he would not lose his title in the cage, after sustaining a serious shoulder injury in training which would sideline him for a year and force him to relinquish his crown.
However, upon his return to action he was swiftly placed in a title bout to confirm a new champion after his successor as champ, Jamahal Hill, was also forced to relinquish the title due to injury. And the fight would come against the ex-185-pound pacesetter Alex Pereira who, as fate would have it, trains under his compatriot Teixeira.
And perhaps with revenge on his mind, Pereira would win that fight by second round TKO setting up their eventual rematch this past June in the UFC 303 main event.
That fight, which produced one of the most spectacular finishes of the year, can be watched in full below.
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