UFC president Dana White has made it clear that Jiri Prochazka will get a title shot when he recovers from his injuries.
After sustaining a significant shoulder injury that necessitated surgery, Prochazka decided to give up his UFC light heavyweight championship. The co-featured event of UFC 282 between Jan Blachowicz and Magomed Ankalaev was elevated to the main event to crown a new champion, but a split draw left the belt without an owner.
As a result, White paired Jamahal Hill with former champion Glover Teixeira at UFC 283, where Hill brutally beat the Brazilian to win the light heavyweight title.
Dana White wants Jiri Prochazka to heal completely
White stated that there is no reason for him to hurry because Jiri Prochazka is still healing.
“I’m not pushing him to return,” White said at Saturday’s UFC Fight Night 218 post-fight news conference. “I want him to take as much time as he needs, and I don’t want him to push that shoulder. I don’t want him to feel like there’s a timeline where we need him back. The timeline is as soon as he’s 100 percent healthy. I do not want him to rush or push it.”
In a video message to Hill, Jiri Prochazka (29-3-1 MMA, 3-0 UFC), who defeated Teixeira to win the title in the 2022 Fight of the Year at UFC 275, warns him of his impending arrival. Regardless matter when he returns, according to White, he will get the title shot.
“Yeah, I mean, if he’s ready, but I don’t want him to feel like he needs to be ready to get that fight,” White added. “Whoever has the title when he’s 100 percent healthy, that fight’s waiting for him.” (via ~ MMAJunkie.com)
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