Following his UFC 300 win over Aleksandar Rakic, former light heavyweight champion Jiri Prochazka has hinted that he may move down a weight class to the middleweight division.
Immediately after his bounce-back win on April 13th, Jiri Prochazka called for a rematch with light heavyweight champion, Alex Pereira.
Despite being ranked number one at 205lbs, ‘BJP’ may find himself needing one more win in the division before he is given another title shot.
Jiri Prochazka hints at a move down to middleweight
Earlier this week, the Czech fighter hinted that he is considering a move down to 185lbs instead of considering a move up to heavyweight.
The 31-year-old doubled down on that this past Tuesday and even admitted that for his UFC 300 fight, he didn’t cut weight.
“You want to know something, my last (fight) in Vegas, I didn’t cut weight. For me, my body felt the moment and the fight was coming and I naturally fell down in weight.” Prochazka admitted to Michael Bisping.
“With good food and a good diet, for me, I think 84kg (middleweight) will be no problem and I’m still thinking about that and how I could feel against these guys at middleweight.” he added.
Despite stating that he didn’t cut weight for his UFC 300 bout, Prochazka would be one of the biggest middleweights on the roster if he moved down.
Dricus Du Plessis claims Prochazka is ‘too small’ for 205lbs
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The current middleweight champion, Dricus Du Plessis has offered his opinion on Prochazka potentially moving down to his division.
“Prochazka is too small, he needs to make the (move down to middleweight). I saw Prochazka’s weight at the UFC Performance Institute and I think he’s too small for (light heavyweight). He walks around lighter than I do.” Du Plessis told Shadow Banned.
With the light heavyweight title picture being relatively unclear, Prochazka may decide to move down to 185lbs to try and claim a title shot, with Magomed Ankalaev likely getting the next shot at 205lbs.
Dricus Du Plessis’ first title defense is still yet to be booked, with the rumors circling that he will defend his title in a grudge match with Israel Adesanya at UFC 305, in Perth.
‘Stillknocks’ teased earlier this month that he has verbally agreed to the August 18th date.
The rivalry between the two began when ‘The Last Stylebender’ was the middleweight champion, and the original plan was for them to fight back at UFC 293.
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