Jiri Prochazka noticed the writing on the wall even earlier than Alex Pereira appeared to avenge his loss to Magomed Ankalaev.
In the principle occasion of UFC 320 earlier this month, Pereira did precisely that with a lopsided 80 second TKO win over Ankalaev to regain the sunshine heavyweight title. Prochazka, who additionally earned a stoppage win on the occasion over Khalil Rountree, was requested if he was shocked Pereira made it look really easy, and after operating into each fighters earlier within the week, Prochazka’s crystal ball learn a Pereira win all the way in which.
”No, no, I used to be not so shocked,” Prochazka informed MMA Combating. As a result of after I noticed Alex within the [UFC Performance Institute] and I noticed how he was in form and the way his coaching was going. And yeah, I noticed the spirit of Alex and I noticed the spirit of of Ankalaev, then I mentioned to myself, ‘Man, that is like one other story than earlier than.’
“Their first struggle, what I watched, it was actually like, mentioned to myself, ‘Man, that’s one thing dangerous with him as a result of he’s simply holding himself a bit bit again. So, so I’m pleased that he gained, however that’s all.”
Following the occasion, Ankalaev’s workforce revealed that he suffered a rib damage previous to the struggle — to which Pereira responded by saying he was coping with his personal bodily illnesses heading in.
Whereas Pereira appeared sharp and centered, Prochazka says he didn’t see the identical confidence from Ankalaev in comparison with their first assembly when he defeated Pereira to win the title at UFC 313 in March.
“In [the] P.I., I didn’t see him to coach an excessive amount of,” Proachazka mentioned. “However I noticed him earlier than the struggle. And within the struggle, after I noticed him, like he was catching himself again, again, again, again, little step again, little step again, then I noticed like he’s he’s not proper. One thing’s flawed, so one thing like, he’s so cautious. He’s so cautious, not like final time, he’s going ahead, up and down, altering ranges, self-confidence, he was completely, completely totally different particular person.”
Prochazka was fairly emotional following Pereira’s win as a result of the dream state of affairs for “BJP” is to change into a two-time mild heavyweight champion, and achieve this by defeating “Poatan,” who holds two knockout victories within the collection.
If Prochazka had to decide on one or the opposite, it’s regaining that title and doing issues proper the second time round.
“No matter [UFC wants to do],” Prochazka defined. “Proper now, what I need, I actually wish to struggle Alex [for the] third] time. And I’m prepared for whoever, however what I actually assume, and I do know proper now, I’m prepared for the title. [I’m ready] for that probability to take it again to Czech Republic, and I’m going for that.”
