Jiri Prochazka actually didn’t have an issue with Magomed Ankalaev till the brand new mild heavyweight champion took a shot at him simply hours after beating Alex Pereira within the UFC 313 most important occasion.
As a former champion and perennial contender within the division, Prochazka was clearly invested within the final result of the battle and he truly despatched a congratulations to Ankalaev whereas including that he used “lovely strain” to stifle Pereira and even when “most individuals don’t prefer it … you received the title for now.”
After Prochazka then instructed leaping proper right into a title shot for his subsequent battle, Ankalaev responded by calling him a “horrible fighter” and a “fraud” and saying “so many guys deserve it greater than you — you want to go win some fights.”
This man is a horrible fighter
— Magomed Ankalaev (@AnkalaevM) March 9, 2025
I feel you’re a fraud and so many guys deserve it greater than you you want to go win some fights
— Magomed Ankalaev (@AnkalaevM) March 9, 2025
“I like all of the folks besides him,” Prochazka stated on the Ariel Helwani Present. “He’s an excessive amount of, [especially] his final tweet on me.”
Prochazka took offense to the message from Ankalaev however he was particularly upset with the tone after he apparently bumped into the Russian not that way back and the assembly was nothing however cordial.
That apparently modified after Ankalaev grew to become champion and now he’s positively rubbed Prochazka the flawed manner.
“He don’t know me, I don’t know him personally,” Prochazka stated. “One factor what I can say to Ankalaev, he can suppose no matter he needs however I do know that the one one that’s a fraud is him. As a result of after I met him on the UFC Efficiency Institute in Las Vegas, he was there, he was very good, he was pleasant [saying] ‘howdy, good to satisfy you, all good’ and proper now he’s a famous person and a giant gangster.
“Proper now, he’s taking part in this recreation and he’s hyped and I perceive. He received the title in opposition to the worst efficiency [from] Alex Pereira. Solely [fraudulent] individual right here is Magomed Ankalaev.”
So far as answering Ankalaev’s criticism, Prochazka is fast to level out that he’s constructed a formidable resume ever since arriving within the UFC together with his solely losses coming in a pair of fights in opposition to Pereira.
Exterior of that Prochazka grew to become UFC champion in simply his third battle with the promotion whereas racking up a formidable six post-fight bonuses alongside the way in which.
“[I’m] the worst fighter? Each time, I’m giving every thing to my fights,” Prochazka stated. “Each time I’m going to complete my opponent and to offer all of it in my fights. Not like him.
“When he’s preventing, many occasions within the second or third spherical when it’s a excessive efficiency, he’s attempting to somewhat bit run out from the efficiency, from the attacking, from the aggressive assaults. That provides me just one that means. Solely [fraudulent] individual right here is Magomed Ankalaev.”
It’s clear that Ankalaev’s phrases received below his pores and skin however Prochazka guarantees he’s not all that upset as a lot because it’s simply added extra motivation to get that battle so he can take one other shot at changing into a champion once more.
Prochazka could not like Ankalaev very a lot however finally it’s the title round his waist that the 32-year-old veteran from the Czech Republic needs greater than some disagreement over the web.
“I don’t care about this man,” Prochazka stated. “I simply need to go and take a title. It doesn’t matter about him. Proper now, he’s the champion however I feel no person likes that and no person respects that he’s the champion.”
So far as his need to run it again with Pereira once more, which was Prochazka’s instant suggestion after UFC 313 ended, he’s up for that as properly however Ankalaev is his new precedence for now.
“I don’t need to be caught in some feelings like I would like Alex in each manner!” Prochazka stated. “For me, I’m OK. I do know I’ll meet Alex a 3rd time for one hundred pc in mild heavyweight, I’m positive. However proper now, I’ll do no matter is critical to catch Ankalaev.”
