Former UFC light heavyweight champion Jiri Prochazka intends to display his transformation when he faces Aleksandar Rakic. Prochazka, with a record of 29-4-1 MMA and 3-1 UFC, will take on Rakic, who holds a record of 14-3 MMA and 6-2 UFC, at UFC 300 on April 13. The event will be held at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. After suffering a defeat in his title fight against Alex Pereira at UFC 295, Prochazka aims to bounce back. He had been on a winning streak of 13 fights before that loss, but a long layoff due to injury did not deter him from wanting to return to the octagon as soon as possible. Prochazka explains, “I don’t care about finding the perfect opponent for me. I just wanted to get back in action quickly, and Aleksandar happened to be available among the top five light heavyweight contenders. So I reached out to him and proposed the fight.”
Rakic has been persistent in his desire to face Prochazka, and now he will finally get the opportunity. Prochazka acknowledges that Rakic’s strength lies more in his grappling skills than in his striking abilities. However, Prochazka is prepared to face him in any aspect of the fight. Prochazka states, “He’s a mixed bag. He possesses solid wrestling skills and is undeniably physically strong. His standup game may not be his strongest suit, but as I mentioned, he’s a versatile fighter. Adept at striking and wrestling. I am ready to face both aspects of his game.”
The defeat against Pereira put an end to Prochazka’s impressive winning streak. Nevertheless, Prochazka is determined to showcase his true potential against Rakic. He expresses his desire to demonstrate his mastery not only in training and daily life but also inside the cage. Prochazka emphasizes, “I aspire to manifest my skills to the fullest extent. It’s not just about training and personal growth. It’s about repetition, constant improvement. But ultimately, I want to exhibit my abilities within the confines of the octagon. That’s my ultimate goal.”