UFC veteran Anthony Smith argues that Jiri Prochazka will never get a better chance at beating Alex Pereira than on short notice for UFC 303.
With Conor McGregor officially out of his enormous return fight against Michael Chandler, the UFC turned to two of their biggest stars to save the upcoming PPV.
Now, as fans begin to predict how they think the upcoming rematch between light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira and former 205lb king Jiri Prochazka will go down, there is an argument that taking the fight on short notice could be BJP’s saving grace.
Anthony Smith argues short notice is a good thing for Prochazka
On last week’s episode of Good Guy/Bad Guy, former double champion Daniel Cormier argued that if he were Jiri Prochazka, he would have declined the short-notice fight for UFC 303 in order to have more time to prepare for Poatan.
“I kind of disagree with you a little bit,” countered fan-favorite light heavyweight veteran Anthony Smith, explaining how in his view, there isn’t enough time for Prochazka to improve in the needed areas anyway at this point in his career; let alone on two weeks’ notice.
“I don’t know that more time helps Jiri Prochazka – I don’t know if he can change the things he needs to change to consistently beat Alex Pereira; he’s a wild man and if he changes that, he loses what’s great about his style and what makes him, him.
“Can he beat him? Absolutely. Something crazy could happen and he could end up in the scramble, he could hurt him; it’s possible – I’m not saying it’s an impossible task, I just don’t know that more time is going to help him any more than going in and doing it right now.”
Smith argued that taking on Pereira on short notice is “the best-case scenario” for the Czech Samurai as “maybe Alex hasn’t been training his hardest, maybe his cardio isn’t where it needs to be.”
The former title challenger, who is also stepping up on short notice to face Carlos Ulberg at UFC 303, keenly acknowledged that another reason why such a quick training camp could benefit Prochazka is because of the dreaded weight cut.
“We’re looking for people to take short notice fights that are stars that can make weight… The make-weight thing stands out to me because the last time I saw Alex Pereira, he was an absolute monster and I think that’s going to be the biggest fight he’s going to have that entire weekend.”
Last week, Pereira revealed that he had 22lbs to cut in order to make the light heavyweight championship limit; indicating that he stayed ready and in shape following his dramatic KO win over Jamahal Hill in April.
A big win secures Pereira his spot as ‘the face of the UFC’
Considering Alex Pereira’s insane title run, his iconic rivalry with Israel Adesanya, his saving of UFC 300 earlier in the year, and now the saving of UFC 303 – is there an argument that Poatan is now the face of the UFC?
“Yeah absolutely,” said Smith, noting that “the face of the organization kind of changes year to year but I think this definitely puts a stamp on him for this year.”
The veteran light heavyweight explained that one facet of Pereira’s superstardom is his willingness to step in on short notice to do not only the promotion a favor, but the global fanbase.
“My first thought was Alex Pereira [for UFC 303] because he’s the only one seemingly willing to risk it all on short notice and do it at the highest level with the most eyes.
“A lot of guys aren’t willing to do that; Max Holloway maybe would but Sean O’Malley doesn’t take short notice fights, Jon Jones doesn’t take short notice fights, [Dricus] du Plessis doesn’t take short notice fights.
“These are all the big names in the sport right now and none of them are willing to do the things and risk it like Alex Pereira is,” acknowledged the former title challenger.
Alex Pereira vs Jiri Prochazka 2, as well as Anthony Smith vs Carlos Ulberg, are scheduled for UFC 303 on Saturday, June 29 live from the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.