MMA
A bypassed Prochazka and a broken promise? Someone else should have fought for the title, UFC says it made a mistake
When Jiri Prochazka got injured late last year and gave up his belt to avoid blocking the division, he was promised by the UFC. As soon as he was healed, he would fight for the title. Basically, it was just a matter of arranging a date, however, for reigning champion Jamahal Hill and the situation had to be addressed from scratch. The fear was that the promise had been broken.
When Jiri Prochazka got injured late last year and gave up his belt to avoid blocking the division, he was promised by the UFC. As soon as he was healed, he would fight for the title. Basically, it was just a matter of arranging a date, however, for reigning champion Jamahal Hill and the situation had to be addressed from scratch. The fear was that the promise had been broken.
The cursed welterweight. Ever since Jon Jones decided to move up to heavyweight, the champions have been changing like clockwork. The last two title holders have been injured and surrendered the belt. The first to make this noble gesture was Jiri Prochazka, then Jamahal Hill.
These two fighters were supposed to fight this year. Procházka was promised that he would fight for the belt as soon as he recovered. But at least this year, that won’t happen as Hill was seriously injured and gave up the title.
The UFC is dealing with a tricky situation and an elegant solution was offered. Because Jan Blachowicz and Alex Pereira will be fighting each other at the next numbered event in late July. Could they be fighting for the title?
The advertisement the UFC posted on Facebook to the world suggested so. The organization was teasing two title fights at the 291 gala. Fans began to be that the promise Prochazka was given was broken and the Moravian fighter was bypassed.
But according to MMA Junkie journalist Mike Bohn, this was a mistake. After all, he received a statement from UFC management, which confirmed that Blachowicz’s fight with Pereira will be a three-round fight only.
The UFC is under tremendous pressure right now. Walk would like to fight for the title as soon as possible, but there aren’t that many options in play. It is possible that he will have to wait until the fall just for the winner of the duel between the Polish sympathizer and the Brazilian puncher.
We are still waiting for the official statement of the organization. Let’s hope that we will see Prochazka in action as soon as possible and that he will indeed immediately fight for the title he surrendered at the end of the year.
Source: UFC, MMA Junkie