Jiri Prochazka has seized UFC gold after just four fights into his run with the promotion.
In what’s being called one of the greatest title fights in UFC light-heavyweight history, the Czech warrior traded blows and positions back and forth with defending champion Glover Teixeira for 24 minutes in an all-out brawl at UFC 275.
Things were looking uncertain for the challenger until he sunk in a surprise rear-naked choke late into the fifth round, forcing Teixeira to submit.
“I was in a good position, and he left me to take his neck – he has a big head with big bones on the chin, so I used that [as leverage] against him,” he told reporters at his post-fight press conference.
“You have to take what the moment gives you – and he had a free neck, so I took that.”
You have to take what the moment gives you – and he had a free neck, so I took that.
Jiri Prochazka on his submission of Glover Teixeira
Poor performance
Prochazka says, though he’s stoked to walk away with the win, he’s not happy with his overall performance inside the Octagon in Singapore.
“I’m satisfied, but some moments – like you saw – Glover had an advantage,” the 29-year-old lamented.
“I was a little bit lazy [in setting up] some situations and preparing him for the knockout.”
‘Denisa’ claims that, as wild as those five rounds were, he wasn’t surprised by anything the 42-year-old Brailian did in the fight, as he made sure to study his prey closely.
Instead, he admitted that any shortcomings in the fight were a result of his own performance, rather than shifting blame.
“[Glover] didn’t surprise me with anything. We knew all the things that he [can] do, and he was successful in there…”
`Horrible fight’
He was clearly disappointed with aspects of the fight.
“From my side it was a horrible fight. A horrible performance… I [only] just survived some moments… I have to work on that. Not just work in training, but work in myself to stop doing things that are [detrimental], [and] just do the things that are effective at defeating the opponent.”
Looking forward to what’s next for the newly crowned champ, Prochazka’s interest was piqued at the mention of a rematch with the former champion he just submitted; though he isn’t ruling out taking on Jan Blachowicz, another previous 205-pound champion, who sat ringside for the affair.
“It doesn’t matter if it’s Glover, or Jan next… just give me a little time to repair my face, and to realise the mistakes from this fight.”
“In the next fight, I swear I will be another fighter – not like that.”
