Jiri Prochazka may be back sooner than we originally expected.
Road To Recovery
Last November, the UFC Light Heavyweight Champion relinquished his title after suffering a serious shoulder injury that was thought to put him out of action for at least a year. However, that timeframe probably won’t be the case as Prochazka’s recovery process seems to be going better than anyone expected.
“Shoulder is great,” Jiri Prochazka told LowKick MMA. “So, I’m working on that everyday. Last month, we did amazing work. That’s why I’m so happy for that. Everything’s going smoothly. Everything’s going step-by-step to be back [at] the end of this summer.
“I wanted to be back in six months after this surgery, shoulder is not so easy to rehab because there is many angles, many things to work on. I think it will not be in six months, because I just don’t want to be just healthy and fight. I want to be on the next level. Right now, I need something like one or two months and then I can start some improvements, some upgrades to my style. Push it to the next level.”
Jiri’s Timeframe
Prochazka’s return fight will likely be against the new UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Jamahal Hill, who took his coveted place while he was gone. As for when that will be, Prochazka has a month in mind for that.
“September, something like that,” Prochazka answered. “Now, it’s April. I think I need [to] finish rehab and making a great preparation, four more months I think. I want practice, practice, and practice. I will see after one month.”
Thoughts On Alex Pereira
In Prochazka’s absence from the Octagon, it has been announced that former UFC Champ Alex Pereira will be moving to the light heavyweight division. Like Hill, Prochazka has also welcomed ‘Poatan’ to their division.
“Nice stand-up style guy, a lot of skills.” Prochazka said of Pereira. “I’m looking forward to seeing him in our division because he is high [level]. He’s very good for our division. Good feeling in his movement, good timing.
“I’m glad to see guys like him in our division because it’s a new opportunity to show the best from us, because he’s a good stand-up [fighter]. It’s something good in our division.”
