Dana White addresses negligence that caused Jiri Prochazka's terrible shoulder injury
UFC president Dana White has pleaded with all fighters to get themselves to the hospital as soon as an injury occurs.
White was referring to the recent shoulder injury Jiri Prochazka suffered just weeks out from his planned first title defense at UFC 282. 'Denisa' announced that he required surgery and was going to be out for at least six months.
After talks with UFC management and seemingly following his own 'samurai code', Prochazka decided to vacate the title as to not hold up the division.
I injured my shoulder and surgery is required which will put me out of action for at least 6 months. Knowing this information, I have decided, after consulting with UFC management, that due to this time constraint, I will not hold lightheavyweight division and will vacate the
The UFC president later described the injury to Jiri Prochazka as one of the worst the organization's doctors have ever seen.
On the latest episode of Paddy Pimblett's Chattin Pony podcast, the 53-year-old called on all UFC fighters to head to the hospital to avoid future cases like this, with Prochazka's injury evidently being made worse by an attempt at self-healing:
"I tell you, I told him, I tell all the fighters: If anything happens to you, jump in a f**king car and go to the hospital. We will pay for everything. People think that these guys at the gym can fix your shoulder. Don't even risk it. Just go to the hospital."
Dana White has sinced confirmed that the Czech fighter will fight for the 205-pound title upon his return. Following a draw between Jan Blachowicz and Magomed Ankalaev in the UFC 282 main event, the vacant title will be contested between Glover Teixeira and Jamahal Hill next month.
Catch the full podcast with Dana White here:
Dana White reveals Jiri Prochazka's injury was made worse by his own attempt to fix it
During the same podcast episode, Dana White revealed that Jiri Prochazka's injury was worsened by his own initial attempt to fix the issue whilst at the gym.
According to the UFC president, promotion's doctors took a look at the injury and after describing it as the worst injury they've seen, 'Denisa' reportedly revealed that the shoulder initially popped out of its socket.
The extent of the injury became more severe after Prochazka and his team tried to pop the shoulder back in:
"That night when it all went down and we had our doctor look at him, the doctor literally said, 'In all the years at the UFC, this is the worst shoulder injury we've ever seen.' It's pretty nasty. Him being the savage that he is, he still wanted to fight. He said, 'I can do this.' No, you can't fight, you can't fight kid. He tore it good."
Dana White continued:
"[His shoulder] popped out and he had some guys there at the gym [trying to put it back in], and they ripped the s**t out of it."
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