Former UFC light heavyweight champion Jiri Prochazka has announced his plans to return to the octagon in second half of 2023. He also shared the interesting way he’s occupying himself while recovering from an injury.
Prochazka made a huge impact when he joined the UFC in 2020, winning via finishes since 2017. With only two outings in the UFC, he received a title shot. He faced former champion Glover Teixeira at UFC 275 in June, and their back-and-forth battle kept MMA fans glued to their seats. The pair went at it for almost five rounds, with Prochazka submitting Teixeira with an RNC in the final few seconds.
Fans were so impressed with their performance that the UFC decided to run it back. They were supposed to have a rematch at UFC 282 in December 2022. However, Prochazka suffered a shoulder injury that forced him to be pulled from the card. He vacated his belt, which is now in possession of Jamahal Hill.
In a recent interview with Czech channel, Prochazka said that he is currently still recovering and it needs a little bit more time. Prochazka also revealed that in the meantime, he is studying to get his master’s degree.
“I’m great. I have a school day that I have once a week. I’m finishing up my master’s degree remotely and I’ll see how challenging it will be.” Prochazka said.
“I used to want to wrestle six months after the surgery, but I recognized that it was bulls**t. I want to give my body space to accept the new things I’m working on. To get it in my bones and in my DNA that it will come naturally to him. The possible date of the match looks like August, September or October. It will be in one of these three months, it will depend on the card. I don’t just want to be at full strength, I want to take the next step in my journey. It’s mainly about the performance, that’s why I want to show something that the opponents haven’t seen yet.”
Prochazka ‘s first task back will likely be taking his belt back from Jamahal Hill.
Ezra Samuel is a passionate freelance writer with a particular love for covering MMA news. His interest in the sport dates back to his college days, and he has since established himself as a respected voice in the MMA community. Over the years, Ezra has contributed his writing to a variety of digital outlets, including the popular site calfkicker.