Former UFC champion Jiri Prochazka didn’t mince words on his UFC 320 foe.
UFC 320 is expected to be one of the biggest cards of the year, featuring a headliner between light heavyweight champion Magomed Ankalaev and former champ Alex Pereira. Ankalaev and Pereira will run it back after their first fight at UFC 313 went the five-round distance.
A few bouts before the main event, Jiri Prochazka and Khalil Rountree Jr. will fight for a potential title shot on the UFC 320 main card. The fight matches two of the division’s most dynamic strikers who are both riding recent resurgence.
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Jiri Prochazka didn’t respect Khalil Rountree Jr.’s ‘careful’ win at UFC Baku
Prochazka and Rountree, two former rivals of Pereira, match up well stylistically. Rountree continued his ascent with a decision win over former titleholder Jamahal Hill at UFC Baku last month.
Despite dropping Hill in Round 3, Rountree wasn’t able to finish the former champion and had to settle for a victory on the judges’ scorecards. Prochazka believes Rountree showed his cards in allowing Hill back in the fight in the later rounds.
In a recent appearance on The Ariel Helwani Show, Prochazka didn’t hold back in evaluating Rountree’s UFC Baku victory.
“It was a very careful performance, patient, and in my opinion, I don’t like that,” Prochazka said.
“I didn’t like that performance because he gave Jamahal too many chances to be back in the fight. To give him a chance, and again and again, the chance to win the fight. To do something, whatever. Because he had so many chances to finish Jamahal, so that wasn’t good and it wasn’t good from him.
“What surprised me was Jamahal Hill’s performance,” Prochazka continued. “I thought that after a lot of his trash talking, he would show a much better fight than he showed. If you want to fight at the top level, go there and show your best, totally. No regrets. Totally show your best.”
As of this writing, Rountree hasn’t responded to Prochazka’s remarks. Rountree was complimentary of Prochazka and his accolades during a recent appearance on The Joe Rogan Experience.
Despite Prochazka dismissing Rountree’s recent performance, both fighters know what’s on the line in their three-rounder at UFC 320. Prochazka confirmed as much earlier this week.
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Jiri Prochazka set to be the UFC 320 backup as former champ confirms title shot on the line
During the above interview with Ariel Helwani, Prochazka confirmed that the winner of his fight with Rountree will face the Ankalaev/Pereira 2 winner. He claimed that a guaranteed title shot was put in his contract for UFC 320.
Prochazka will also serve as the UFC 320 backup fighter should anything happen with the card’s main event booking. Pereira and Ankalaev don’t have a substantial history of pulling out of fights, but Prochazka will be the backup just in case.
Prochazka has traded barbs with Ankalaev in recent weeks ahead of their time sharing the spotlight at UFC 320. Ankalaev has repeatedly mocked Prochazka on social media for completing his education while waiting for his next fight offer.