For Jiri Prochazka, there’s one silver lining to not holding the UFC light heavyweight title: fewer knocks at his door at 6 a.m.
Prochazka was the headline-grabbing U.S. Anti-Doping Agency athlete with the distinction of being the UFC’s most-tested fighter. His 64 tests in 2022 set him far above the 700-plus fighters in the drug testing pool.
The number drew immediate reaction from fighters and fans. Daniel Cormier, UFC Hall of Famer, questioned Prochazka’s ability to outpace Jon Jones (his two-time opponent) during a shift from heavyweight. Former UFC fighter Ben Askren suggested Prochazka may have a legal claim against the anti-doping agency.
But the ex-champ will settle for less scrutiny.
“After giving up the title USADA is going to down right now,” Prochazka stated recently on The MMA Hour . “So I’m really glad for that. If they will hear that, thank you — please hear that.”
If Prochazka is cautious about celebrating too much, it’s because he was only very recently under the microscope. He recalled USADA disrupting his mornings before he sustained a serious shoulder injury that forced him to resign.
“They came every time around 5, 6 a.m., and that was every time a nice morning to take my blood twice from the hand, from the shoulder, and then they took the urine,” he said. It was really funny [over] for three to four months .”
with them
One agent was so frequent that Prochazka stated USADA had to shake things up in order not to get too friendly.
“Occasionally, they may send [agents] to another state in order to ensure that they are doing it correctly,” he stated.
The USADA chose the testing schedule, although Prochazka admits that it was not completely random. He struggled with the whereabouts app that helps the anti-doping agency keep track of fighters for testing purposes, and that, combined with his title win, set the stage.
“Sometimes I did some mistakes with that, and that was a lot of misunderstandings, but now is good,” he said.
Prochazka recently underwent surgery to repair his injured shoulder and expects to meet the winner of Glover Teixeira vs. Jamahal Hill, a fight for the still-vacant light heavyweight title put together after the UFC 282 headliner between Magomed Ankalaev and Jan Blachowicz failed to produce a winner.
Prochazka has no preference of opponent when he fights to retake the title.
“Now the division of light heavyweight is moving so quickly, I don’t know which fighter will make it there so I won’t say.” he stated. Glover and Hill are my opponents in this fight. It doesn’t really matter to me. Show me the best opponent, and I will win.”
Source: https://www.mmafighting.com/2022/12/28/23525410/jiri-prochazka-usada-visits-decreasing-since-loss-of-ufc-title?rand=96749
