Jiri Prochazka surprised Alex Pereira accepted rematch

Jiri Prochazka didn’t count on mild heavyweight champion Alex Pereira to just accept defending his title on such brief discover at UFC 303.

Pereira (10-2 MMA, 7-1 UFC) will run issues again with Prochazka (30-4-1 MMA, 4-1 UFC) in Saturday’s UFC 303 (pay-per-view, ESPN, ESPN+) principal occasion at T-Cell Enviornment in Las Vegas.

Each fighters had simply two weeks to arrange for his or her title-fight rematch after the unique principal occasion between Conor McGregor and Michael Chandler was scrapped. Prochazka and Pereira have been anticipated to combat probably Aug. 17 at UFC 305 in Perth, so Prochazka isn’t positive why Pereira accepted to combat him two months earlier.

“I used to be a bit of bit shocked by that, I can say sure,” Prochazka stated on “The MMA Hour.” “As a result of I don’t know what was the rationale he stated sure, if it’s cash or one thing else, however communication with me from the UFC, they gave me some higher – I don’t wish to be concrete, however we negotiated about higher cash

“So I don’t know the way it was with Alex. However I didn’t know concerning the cash or no matter once I accepted (the combat), so for me this isn’t so necessary as a result of the primary level is to get the title and to convey it again to the Czech Republic.”

Regardless of the short-notice nature of the combat, Prochazka relishes the chance.

“I consider in that,” Prochazka stated. “I used to be born like a warrior – not I consider in that. I’m the warrior, and that is nearly when the state of affairs and the issues round you come like that, it’s a must to say simply sure. To react to what occurred as a result of when one thing occurs on the road, it’s essential to react proper now. Proper right here, proper now. That’s what I like about brief discover as a result of it’s essential to react proper now, proper right here. Present me your finest proper now. That’s all.”

Prochazka was knocked out by Pereira in their vacant light heavyweight title fight at UFC 295 – a stoppage he initially debated. He rebounded with a knockout of Aleksandar Rakic at UFC 300 and is assured he’ll avenge his loss to “Poatan.”

“I’ll win the combat,” Prochazka stated. “I’ll win the combat, and I consider in that, and I’ll do this. That’s all. I cannot step right into a combat the place I don’t consider in that, in myself. I already settle for that I’ll do every little thing, and proper now’s the nice probability to indicate that.”

For extra on the cardboard, go to MMA Junkie’s occasion hub for UFC 303.