WATCH: 7,000 Fans Give Jiri Prochazka a Hero’s Welcome as He Makes History by Becoming the First Czech Champion
Jiri Prochazka made history by becoming the first fighter from the Czech Republic to win a belt in the UFC. ‘BJP’ made his UFC debut with an insane knockout win over the former title challenger Volkan Oezdemir.
He then took on another former title challenger in Dominick Reyes and turned in a knockout of the year candidate as he left Reyes motionless on the floor after a spinning elbow. These two performances were enough for the UFC to grant him a title shot, which they did at UFC 275, the promotion’s first PPV event in Singapore.
Creating history meant that Prochazka was given a hero’s welcome in his home country. Videos shared by his manager Tim Simpson show a sea of people cheering on Prochazka as he flaunts his newly acquired piece of UFC gold.
Jiri Prochazka scrapped a last-minute win against Glover Teixeira at UFC 275
The fight did not start out well for Prochazka, who found himself on the ground with Glover Teixeira on top of him raining down elbows. Although ‘BJP’ did do a good job of making sure that the fight stays on the feet, he still has a long way to go before he can be confident in his takedown defense.
Stamina and durability played a big factor in the fight. Glover had the win all but sealed as the fight entered the final 30-seconds. However, extreme fatigue caused him to give up a position on the ground and end up in a choke himself. This is the first time in his career that Prochazka has secured a submission win, ironically against a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu expert.
After the fight while leaving the octagon, Prochazka had a heated exchange with former champion Jan Blachowicz. ‘BJP’ shared his thoughts on the altercation saying, “He was so brave. He told me something about our fight, so I share the energy with him. We will see. I will be ready. Just give me a little time to repair my face and to realize the mistakes from this fight.”
What did you make of Jiri Prochazka’s performance against Glover Teixeira? Who do you think he should face next? Let us know in the comments below!
