Jiri Prochazka has vacated the UFC mild heavyweight championship with out ever defending the title. Prochazka was scheduled to defend his crown at UFC 282 in opposition to Glover Teixeira in a rematch of their epic showdown from earlier this yr. Instead, Jan Blachowicz vs. Magomed Ankalaev, initially scheduled as a three-round co-main occasion, will decide a brand new champion, the UFC introduced in an announcement.
Prochazka voluntarily vacated his belt after struggling a “extreme orthopedic damage” that may sideline him for upwards of a yr, in response to ESPN. Prochazka injured his proper shoulder whereas wrestling, his supervisor Tim Simpson advised Yahoo Sports. UFC famous in its launch that Prochazka will combat for the title as soon as he’s medically cleared to compete once more after his rehabilitation course of.
“I used to be injured in coaching in Las Vegas whereas ending my preparation for my title protection within the UFC’s mild heavyweight division,” Prochazka mentioned in an announcement posted to Instagram on Wednesday. “I injured my shoulder and surgical procedure is required which can put me out of motion for at the very least six months. Knowing this data, I’ve determined, after consulting with UFC administration, that resulting from this time constraint, I is not going to maintain [up the] mild heavyweight division and can vacate the title.
“I will go for the UFC belt as quickly because the medical doctors give me the inexperienced mild to combat. I’m going to go for the belt and I’m going to get it regardless of who presently holds it. It’s all the time been crucial factor for me to placed on one of the best efficiency and examine myself to one of the best. Let one of the best present regardless of who’s there now. I’ll be again in six months and I’ll take the title [from] whoever holds it. I apologize to my followers, associates, and household who purchased tickets and made plans to come back to Las Vegas to assist me, it means rather a lot to me. I additionally need to apologize to Glover. Victory!”
UFC president Dana White ranked Prochazka’s shoulder damage because the worst UFC medical doctors have witnessed.
“This is the worst shoulder damage the medical doctors have seen in UFC historical past,” White mentioned in an interview with Yahoo Sports. “It’s actually f—ing unhealthy. His shoulder could be very, very unhealthy. He’s going to have severe surgical procedure that may require in depth rehab.”
Teixeira turned down a unique proposed title combat, in response to Yahoo Sports.
Blachowicz beforehand earned the title when he received the vacant strap by TKO over Dominick Reyes in September 2020. This will probably be Ankalaev’s first title combat beneath the UFC banner and he enters with a nine-fight win streak.
Prochazka vs. Teixeira 2 was a right away rematch from their Fight of the Year frontrunner at UFC 275. Prochazka captured the UFC mild heavyweight title in simply his third UFC combat, defeating the promotion’s oldest first-time champion in Teixeira.
