Jiri Prochazka is plotting a move to middleweight after Dricus Du Plessis’ first title defense.
Prochazka claims to have been considering the move leading up to Du Plessis’ UFC 305 main-event clash against former champ Israel Adesanya in Perth, Australia on Aug. 17. According to “BJP,” he would have stayed put at light heavyweight if Adesanya dethroned Du Plessis, as he has the same management as the Nigerian-born Kiwi. However, “Stillknocks” successfully defended his title with a fourth-round submission win in an entertaining title bout, hastening Prochazka’s planned move to 185 pounds.
However, Prochazka notes that the potential move isn’t due to him having a size or power disadvantage at light heavyweight. While the Czech has no problems staying a top contender at 205 pounds, he just wants to challenge himself in another weight class.
“I’ve been considering that if Adesanya wins, I’ll stay in the light heavyweight division, but if Du Plessis wins I’ll follow him,” Prochazka said on his YouTube channel. “I’ll clear things up a bit there and take the belt. But I feel good and strong in the light heavyweight division even though the guys there are a bit heavier. Almost all of them. So I have to say that I have no problem physically or strength-wise, or in any way, with clearing them out. But it would certainly be a challenge for me to go for the belt in the [middleweight] division. And then move up, but I’ll really let it flow and see how it unfolds.”
Prochazka suffered his second title loss to Alex Pereira via knockout at UFC 303 this past June.
