RIZIN champion Jiri Prochazka signs with the UFC
One of the most dangerous light heavyweights on the planet is coming to the UFC. RIZIN champion Jiri Prochazka has been signed to the promotion.
Over recent years in the UFC, the light heavyweight division has been known as one of the more shallow divisions in the sport. In 2019, that started to shift as there was an influx of good new talent.
Meanwhile outside the UFC, top fighters at 205-pounds were spread across promotions like Bellator, KSW, and RIZIN Fighting Federation. However, the latter is now set to make the move to the Octagon.
ESPN has confirmed that RIZIN light heavyweight king Jiri Prochazka has signed an exclusive deal with the UFC.
The Czech Republic native holds a phenomenal record of 26-3-1 with 23 of those wins coming via knockout or TKO. Of the wins on his current 10-fight winning streak, he has finished nine of them.
“Denisa” has been with RIZIN since the beginning as he fought on their very first card in 2015. He would only lose one fight during his 13-fight run with the promotion.
Prochazka became the RIZIN champion in early 2019 when he got redemption against Muhammad “King Mo” Lawal. Squaring off at RIZIN 15, Prochazka would finish his rival in the third round with strikes. Since then, the champion has fought twice with his most recent victory coming at RIZIN 20 on New Year’s Eve when he quickly dispatched of CB Dolloway.
Fans were hopeful that we would get to see an eventual clash between Prochazka and current Bellator double champion, Ryan Bader. Ultimately, it just wasn’t meant to be as the 27-year old will now look to capture a UFC title instead.
No debut date or opponent has been announced for Prochazka yet but one would have to imagine that he’ll get a top 15 ranked opponent at the very least.
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