The UFC has a contingency plan if Alex Pereira or Magomed Ankalaev can’t fight at UFC 320.
The UFC’s light heavyweight title is on the line once again between the world’s greatest fighters: defending champion Ankalaev and former two-division champion and #1 contender Pereira.
Ankalaev defeated Pereira in a closely-contested decision at UFC 313, winning the title back in March.
Now, he’s set to defend the belt against Pereira in the main event of UFC 320 on Oct. 4 in Las Vegas, Nevada, after months of trolling Pereira for not fighting him sooner.
Prior to getting his rematch with Ankalaev, a fighter other than ‘Poatan’ was offered to fight Ankalaev…
Jiri Prochazka says he’s the back-up fighter for Magomed Ankalaev vs. Alex Pereira 2
Former champion and #2 UFC light heavyweight contender Jiri Prochazka was reportedly offered a title shot at UFC 317, but he turned down the Ankalaev fight so he could finish his university exams.
Since graduating, Prochazka will now fight former UFC title challenger Khalil Rountree Jr. at UFC 320—the same night Pereira rematches Ankalaev for the 205 lb title.
Between him and Rountree, who’s also coming off an impressive win over Jamahal Hill, the UFC chose Prochazka as the back-up fighter for the UFC 320 headliner.
“Yeah, that’s right,” Prochazka confirmed he was the back-up on The Ariel Helwani Show.
“That was the deal with the UFC,” the ex-champ added.
Jiri Prochazka has only lost to Alex Pereira in 17 fights
In MMA, there’s a common saying that ‘styles make fights.’
That seems to be evident in the series between Prochazka and Pereira, which Pereira won both fights by knockout in two rounds at UFC 295 and months later, at UFC 300.
Prochazka would be undefeated in the UFC if it wasn’t for ‘Poatan’, a skilled striker like himself.
Fans were happy to see Prochazka get the back-up role at UFC 320.
“A great choice,” one fan wrote of Prochazka potentially getting another title opportunity.
“That is absolutely amazing,” another fan reacted.
“To be honest I’ve wanted to see Ank vs Jiri when Jiri had the belt but unfortunately had to vacate it. I’m really hoping that if Alex were to lose again that we could see Jiri vs Ank before the year is over.”