The rest of the world might think of Jiri Prochazka’s UFC 275 win as a “Fight of the Year,” but he considers it a cautionary tale that must be addressed.
Prochazka, now UFC lightweight champion, defeated Glover Teixeira during Saturday’s main show. This is not a consolation prize for an effort that was more challenging than it had to be.
“It was, from my side, it was a horrible fight, a horrible performance,” Prochazka said at the UFC 275 post-fight press conference in Singapore. “Honestly. You saw that fight. I survived for a few moments.
“My plan, not plan – f***… not plan. My life’s plan is to be dominant in the fight and not just be a survivor. To be a hunter, and that will be my next fight, and I will show that. It’s not what I want to do. It’s tough, it’s full of blood, and it’s not beautiful – maybe it’s beautiful for you, you like to be entertained. But for a fighter, I like to fight clean.”
Momentum shifted so many times in the bloody fight that it at many points it was hard to tell who was winning. It was easy to see how close Prochazka came to losing. Prochazka was able to use a few well-judged punches to get on his skates during the championship rounds. If it wasn’t for his sudden desire to grapple, Teixeira may have won the fight.
This is the part that’s unforgivable for the new champ.
“I had to give 100 percent,” he said. He said, “Maybe that’s why I am grateful for it.” It was a hard fight .”
Prochazka used mind games to play with Teixeira. He was the one who, according to many observers, had the most chance of winning by taking down the opponent and beating him from the top.
During one stretch Teixeira mounted him and was punching hard. He teased the champ in response.
“Very lovely, very beautiful, but still nothing,” was his response to Teixeira’s shots. I wanted to show him my ground-and-pound but he didn’t have the power to do that. But he had the power enough to open me, and that was very bad and it was right after to smile at him.”
The opening was a cut that sliced deeply into Prochazka’s brow and bled generously throughout the fight.
” I said to him, “OK, it’s no time for fun anymore,” he added.
Prochazka was aware of the strengths Teixeira had brought to the table and he sighed that it wasn’t enough.
“We knew all these things, what he had to do, and he was successful in that,” he said. “F***. “F***. Do only what is necessary to win the fight. I think that was the big mistake.”
It’s one mistake Prochazka aims to fix when he returns to the octagon. It is possible that Teixeira will be rematched, or Jan Blachowicz (ex-champ), might meet with him. He is fine with any opponent – the important thing is that he’s a little smarter when he defends the belt.
As exciting as he is shooting from the hip, Prochazka doesn’t want to leave the octagon so busted up.
“Doesn’t matter if it will be Glover or Jan, it doesn’t matter,” he said. “For the next fight, I swear I will be another fighter. Not like that. It was not an excellent performance.
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