Jiri Prochazka is on his way to Khalil Rountree Jr. On UFC 320, but he will draw double duty that week in case he needs it.
The former light heavyweight champion is expected to serve as the official backup for the title fight that takes place the same night when Magomed Ankalaev sets his title on the line in a rematch against Alex Pereira. The Prochazka team confirmed the news to MMA Fighting on Monday after he first mentioned his extra role when he spoke Yahoo! Sport.
The UFC often uses back -up hunters in case there is a disaster statement and the main event is a hit, but this is even easier with PrOCHAZKA that is already planned on the same card.
The biggest difference for PrOCHAZKA is to reach the limit of 205 pounds for a potential title shot when it is needed. He is currently planned for a non-title fight, which means that he could usually hit the scale with a fee of one pound.
It is clear that Prochazka has history with Pereira after having fallen to the Brazilian in the past in the past, but that does not mean that a third fight falls outside the empire of the possibility. Of course, Prochazka has never confronted with Ankalaev before, so that is a completely new matchup for both hunters.
Saving as Back -Up offers no guarantees insofar as future opportunities, but Procazka who gets the nod can set him up for a potential title shot when he will pass through Rountree in October.
PrOCHAZKA already sent another former champion in Jamahal Hill with his last victory and the elimination of Rountree could put him in position to challenge who is standing between Ankalaev and Pereira.
UFC 320 will fall on October 4 from the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas with Ankalaev vs. Pereira 2 as the main event with bantam weight champion Merab Dvalishvili who defends his title against Cory Sandhagen in the Co-Main event. Prochazka’s fight against Rountree is on the main map on Pay-PerView.
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