Jiri Prochazka says his middleweight move depended on Dricus du Plessis' win: "I’ll follow him"
Since his second loss to Alex Pereira at UFC 303, Jiri Prochazka has teased a middleweight move. Two months after the setback, Prochazka provided more clarity regarding the situation on his YouTube channel.
On Aug. 25, Prochazka posted a 23-minute video in his native Czech titled 'What's next for me.' When discussing his middleweight plans, Prochazka said he was waiting to see who would win the UFC 305 fight between Dricus Du Plessis and Israel Adesanya. BJP stated he would "follow" Du Plessis if he wins and chase a fight with him.
Translated to English on his YouTube channel, Prochazka said:
"I've been considering that if Adesanya wins, I will stay in the light heavyweight division but if Du Plessis wins, I'll follow him. I'll clear things up there and take the belt. But I feel good and strong in the light heavyweight division, even if the guys there are a bit heavier."
Du Plessis won the UFC 305 main event by fourth-round submission to defend his title. This development gives legitimacy to Prochazka's potential weight change.
Watch the full video from Jiri BJP Prochazka on YouTube below:
Has Jiri Prochazka ever fought at middleweight?
While Jiri Prochazka mentions a potential move to middleweight as the next step in his career, 'BJP' has never fought at 185 pounds. During his 36 pro fights, Prochazka has fought 31 times at light heavyweight, three times at heavyweight, once at openweight and once at a 242-pound catchweight.
Prochazka's frame is on par with most light heavyweights, and he is a former UFC light heavyweight champion. However, with two losses to the current champion, his path back to the title is temporarily congested.
In his YouTube video, Prochazka spoke briefly about how cutting to 185 pounds would be difficult. Although, he believes he can manage it with the right guidance. It would be a significant challenge, however, considering the middleweight limit is 20 pounds less than light heavyweight.