Jiri
Prochazka got caught by a left hook at UFC 327. |
Getty/UFC
Jiri
Prochazka may long regret the UFC 327
headliner as the one that got away.
With the vacant light heavyweight title on the line and Carlos
Ulberg hobbled by an apparent knee injury, Prochazka suffered a
shocking knockout loss 3:45 into the opening stanza on Saturday
night at the Kaseya Center in Miami. In the aftermath of the
defeat, Prochazka lamented a missed opportunity while also hinting
that he may have let up once he realized his opponent was
injured.
It was the same sentiment for Prochazka both in his immediate
post-fight interview and then in a video update he later provided
via social media.
“Just checking the jaw in the hospital,” Prochazka said on his
Instagram Stories. “Big apologies for my performance tonight. I
still can’t understand this. My stupid mercy in the fight and that
cost me this fight.
“I would like to fight a rematch. Because that was my fight. That
was my fight and I just gave him this opportunity to catch me. Big
apologies to everyone who support me.”
‘I Lost the Focus’
In a caption on a separate Instagram post, Prochazka again
referenced “mercy” but also offered no excuses for the defeat.
If this is the part to be the best, I take it,” he wrote. “Mercy
was out of place and this part of myself I need to destroy. In the
cage for sure. No excuses, I lost the focus, he [caught] me. One
more time, apologies everyone, for my performance It is inevitable
to be stronger than ever. See you soon. Let’s go back to home and
see the miracle of life.”
Prochazka has now fallen short in his last three light heavyweight
title fights — twice against Alex
Pereira before the latest defeat to Ulberg. “BJP” captured
205-pound gold with a fifth-round submission of Glover
Teixeira at UFC 275 in June 2022. He was forced to vacate the
belt later that year after suffering a significant shoulder
injury.