Following his recent victory over Aleksandar Rakic at UFC 300, former light heavyweight champion Jiri Prochazka has hinted at a potential move down to the middleweight division. However, current middleweight champion Dricus Du Plessis believes that Jiri Prochazka is “too small” for the light heavyweight division and should consider dropping down to 185 pounds.
Jiri Prochazka’s Weight Considerations
In a recent interview, Prochazka revealed that he didn’t cut weight for his UFC 300 fight. He stated, “You want to know something, my last (fight) in Vegas, I didn’t cut weight. For me, my body felt the moment, and the fight was coming, and I naturally fell down in weight.” The Czech fighter even expressed interest in competing at middleweight (84 kg) and wondered how he would fare against opponents in that weight class.
Dricus Du Plessis’ Opinion
Dricus Du Plessis, who currently holds the middleweight title, disagrees with Prochazka’s decision to stay at light heavyweight. He commented, “Prochazka is too small; he needs to make the move down to middleweight. I saw Prochazka’s weight at the UFC Performance Institute, and I think he’s too light for the 205-pound division. He walks around lighter than I do.” Du Plessis believes that Prochazka could be a formidable force in the middleweight division.
Title Picture and Potential Matchups
With the light heavyweight title picture still unclear, Prochazka may indeed consider moving down to 185 pounds to pursue a title shot. Meanwhile, Magomed Ankalaev is likely to get the next shot at the light heavyweight title. As for Du Plessis, his first title defense is yet to be booked, with rumors suggesting a grudge match against Israel Adesanya at UFC 305 in Perth.
In summary, Dricus Du Plessis advocates for Jiri Prochazka’s move to middleweight, emphasizing that Prochazka’s natural weight puts him at a disadvantage in the light-heavyweight division. Whether Prochazka decides to make the move remains to be seen, but the potential matchups in both weight classes promise exciting possibilities for MMA fans.