Jiri
Prochazka doesn’t mind Magomed
Ankalaev being excluded from the light heavyweight title
picture.
Former champion Alex
Pereira recently vacated the light heavyweight title and moved
up to heavyweight. Pereira is now scheduled to fight Ciryl Gane
for the interim heavyweight title at
UFC White House on June 14.
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With Pereira out of the picture, many expected Magomed
Ankalaev to evidently get a shot at the vacant light
heavyweight title. However, despite being the only man to beat
Pereira at light heavyweight, Ankalaev has been excluded from the
upcoming title fight. Prochazka is now scheduled to fight Carlos
Ulberg in the main event at UFC 327
on Aprill 11 at the Kaseya Center in Miami, Florida.
‘Not Just Like That’
Prochazka believes Ankalaev didn’t deserve a shot at the light
heavyweight title after his last loss against Pereira. Prochazka
believes the former champion has to build his way back into the
title picture.
“I think after his last performance, he has to prove that he is
able to be the best,” Prochazka told New York Post Sports. “Not just like
that.”
Ankalaev (20-2) dominantly Pereira (13-3) on the ground for five
rounds to win the light heavyweight title in their first meeting at
UFC 313 last year. However, Pereira exacted revenge in their
rematch, knocking out Ankalaev in just 80 seconds at UFC 320.
Ankalaev’s loss against Pereira was his first since his only other
career loss in his UFC debut in 2018.
Meanwhile, Prochazka (32-5) has been stopped in two title fights
against Pereira. However, “BJP” has rebounded with finishes over
Jamahal
Hill and Khalil
Rountree since his last loss against Pereira. Meanwhile, Ulberg
(13-1) is on a nine-fight winning streak with six finishes since
his lone career loss in his UFC debut in 2021.