UFC: Prochazka tries to pass Poatan behind and challenges Ankalaev

Former UFC light heavyweight champion Jiri Prochazka has decided to show up to shake up the top of the division and intends to overtake Alex Poatan Pereira in search of winning back the belt.

In an interview with the website Full Violence, the Czech revealed that his manager has already approached Magomed Ankalaev, the current champion in the category, to try to schedule the fight before a possible rematch between the Russian and the Brazilian.

“He keeps talking about Alex. Will he fight him? My manager is trying to negotiate this fight with Ankalaev. Let's see if Alex will fight him, or if I will fight him, or someone else. I'm focused on Ankalaev,” he said.

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Magomed became light heavyweight champion in March, when he defeated Poatan by unanimous decision. On the same day, however, Dana White himself expressed his support for a rematch between them.

The date proposed by the Russian was August, but another title fight has already been scheduled for the numbered card of the month in question. Recently, Poatan stated that he wants to fight again between September and November of this year - and the most likely scenario is that it will be the rematch against Ankalaev, despite weighing 110 kg .

Prochazka has been trying to regain the light heavyweight title for some time now. He became champion in 2022, but ended up giving up the belt because an injury prevented him from making his first defense.

When he recovered, the champion's position was still vacant, but Poatan had already arrived in the division; the two faced each other for the first time in late 2023, when the Brazilian won by knockout in the second round, becoming champion.

The rematch between them took place in June 2024, with a new victory for the Brazilian fighter by knockout, also in the second round. After that, Jiri faced Jamahal Hill, who, like him, is a former champion in the category and was knocked out by Poatan; the Tcheko won by knockout in the third round and is now awaiting his turn to fight for the belt again.

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