'I know I can beat him'… Jiri Prochazka calls for third fight with Alex Pereira despite two KO losses

07/06/2024 12:23 PM

While Jiri Prochazka is now 2-0 down in his rivalry with Alex Pereira, the Czech legend remains confident that he has the minerals to put ‘Poatan’ in his place.

The pair of popular fighters squared off at UFC 303 inside the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA, with the Brazilian phenom defending his championship belt with a devastating head kick knock out.

Jiri Prochazka is convinced he has what it takes to beat Alex Pereira

When the opportunity arose for Jiri Prochazka to potentially earn his redemption over Alex Pereira, he jumped at the chance.

Having landed a plethora of heavy shots in their first encounter, the former 205-pound King knew he had the skill set to push the Sao Paulo native to his limit.

However, when they set foot in the cage together, he was unable to claim the scalp he so desperately craved.

In a beautiful display of striking, ‘Poatan’ landed a thunderous left high kick to send Prochazka hurtling towards the canvas in a moment of magic, that wiped his adversary’s dreams away in front of his very eyes.

Alas, while he remains atop the light heavyweight rankings, another shot at Pereira is unlikely to come to fruition anytime soon.

WOW: Ex-UFC fighter says he's willing to 'dabble' in Bare Knuckle to settle grudge with Mike Perry

However, despite the hurdles he’ll undoubtedly have to cross, the 31-year-old is willing to do whatever it takes to secure a trilogy, adamant he has the skill set to avenge the two defeats.

In an interview with TN.cz, the fighter, who had to deal with both a staph infection and a back injury during the build-up to the contest, believes at 100% fitness, a clash with Pereira would have a very different ending.

He explained: "I know I can beat Pereira. I feel I have what it takes and I just need to unlock the right things to really win. I'll let my next opponent crystallize. I'm thinking of names. There's Jamahal Hill, Magomed Ankalaev and Jan Blachowicz."

With a bulletproof mindset, the traditional martial artist is already plotting his comeback. However, should he make it back to the title, it might not be Pereira he faces, as the two-weight title-holder is eyeing up a new division.

Alex Pereira wants to become a heavyweight world champion

Having proved himself as one of the greatest kickboxers to ever walk the face of the Earth during his time with Glory, and taken over the world of the UFC, there isn’t much left for Pereira to achieve.

Inside his first seven fights in the world’s premier mixed martial arts organization, the icon cemented his legacy in stone, winning titles in two divisions.

Thus, with the legend slowly emerging as the face of the company, he’s prepared to push the boundaries further than anyone has before.

In the history of the promotion, no fighter has claimed belts in three weight classes. But that could all change if Pereira gets his wish.

The gifted athlete is willing to step up to test his skills against both Jon Jones and Tom Aspinall, in potential blockbuster collisions.

However, one MMA legend is adamant that for someone even as talented as Pereira, taking on the pair of heavyweight champions, may be a step too far.

Interesting: Michael 'Venom' Page breaks silence with Instagram post after loss to Ian Machado Garry