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UFC light heavyweight title challenger Jiri Prochazka doesn’t seem to think welterweight champion, Kamaru Usman, competing against the best in his division would have gone well.
Last week, many in the MMA realm were stunned when Usman (20-1) revealed in an interview with GQ his unusual and eventually scrapped plans to become a two-division UFC champion. The 170-pound king wasn’t planning on moving up 15 pounds to the next division to face friend and fellow Nigerian Israel Adesanya (21-1). No, he thought about bypassing “The Last Stylebender” and competing in a division 35 pounds higher than his, and against then light heavyweight Jan Blachowicz (28-9).
“I was going to skip Israel and go fight Jan at 205. Because I’m pound-for-pound, I want to prove it. No matter what weight it is, I thought he was a really good matchup for me,” Usman said.
Jiri Prochazka doesn’t like Kamaru Usman’s chances against the best at light heayvweight
Obviously, a matchup between Usman and former champion Blachowicz never came to pass. However, the meer idea has been a topic of debate in MMA circles since. One person asked about the rumored bout was the current top contender at 205-pounds Prochazka (28-3-1). In May, he will face the man who beat Blachowicz, Glover Teixeira (33-7), for the division title in the main event of UFC 274.
In a new interview with The Allstar “Denisa” was asked about Usman fighting the best at light heavyweight. Since a matchup with the welterweight great in the future isn’t impossible if he beats Teixeira in the Spring. However, besides being shocked by the news, he didn’t seem bullish on the pound-for-pounds star’s chances in the division.
“I don’t want to think about Kamaru Usman as an opponent right now, but I think he will be not so quick in our division. And the power too, will not be on the same level [as he has at welterweight]. He is two weights under us, yeah? That will be a challenge for him and a little problem,” Prochazka said.
“He will beat Jan, that’s what he said? Adesanya didn’t beat Jan and he thinks he can do that? Those are big and strong words. I am not in his position because he’s defended [his title] many times. And he proved that he’s a very big name in fighting. But this is very strong [words].”
The former Rizin light heavyweight champ is in the midst of a 12 fight win streak. The last two have come inside the fabled UFC Octagon. Both of which were second-round knockouts of former title challengers Volkan Oezdemir and Dominick Reyes.
Usman defended his title for a fifth time in November when he beat Colby Covington in their rematch by unanimous decision at UFC 268. He has won 19 straight and is expected to face top contender Leon Edwards in a rematch of their 2015 fight at some point later in the year.
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