“Watched Me Like Some Enemy”- Jiri Prochazka Claims Alex Pereira Sought ‘Vengeance’ After UFC Star Handed Glover Teixeira Title Fight Defeat

Jiri Prochazka is back, and he’s better than ever. After becoming the light heavyweight champion in only his third UFC fight last year, the 31-year-old suffered from a debilitating shoulder injury. Not willing to hold up the division, the Czech vacated his title.

At the UFC 295 media day, Prochazka told reporters that he felt better mentally and physically than he ever had. And ahead of his vacant light heavyweight title contest against Alex Pereira at UFC 295, the ‘BJP’ talked about his thoughts on Pereira and when exactly he started to see him as a potential opponent. This comes days after the Brazilian spoke on “avenging” his friend, coach, and mentor Glover Teixeira‘s loss against Prochazka.

Alex Pereira keen to bring light heavyweight title to Teixeira

Prochazka had defeated Pereira’s friend, coach, and mentor, Texeira, to become the new light heavyweight champion last year at UFC 275. And Pereira spoke about ‘avenging’ Texeira in a recent interview with CBS News. ‘Poatan’ clarified that while he was not going into the fight motivated by revenge for his mentor, it was important for him to defeat Prochazka and bring the title back to Teixeira, albeit as a coach.

“I’m not going into this fight with mixed emotions about vengeance. I don’t want to play that game. I want to go with a very positive mindset. I’m going to fight with the mindset that they haven’t even fought before. But looking into the other side of being able to bring Glover his belt back and put it back in the gym, that means a lot to me,” he told CBS Sports.

However, his UFC 295 opponent has been preparing to face Pereira since the Teixeira fight. The Czech recounted Pereira, still a middleweight, staring him down “like some enemy” in the buildup to his light heavyweight title bout against Teixeira last year. It was at this moment, according to the Czech, that he thought he would have to fight the Brazilian someday.

“Especially how when he when he saw me last July in Vegas. And after our fight in with with Glover (Teixeira) I was there for that week. That fight week I saw him and he was like, still watched me like some enemy. And after that I said (to) myself, like yeah this was this was extraordinary. And (he) can be in the future, he can be my opponent,” he added. And fans are eagerly waiting for their bout in what Prochazka feels is a battle between two warriors.

Prochazka laser-focused on the bout against warrior Pereira

Prochazka told reporters he was “laser-focused” on his upcoming bout, which he characterized as “warrior against warrior”. The Czech has been very complimentary of Pereira throughout the build-up to their fight, which shows just how seriously he is taking the Brazilian. He said that he liked having good opponents, as it drives him to improve and grow as a fighter.

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The fight against Pereira gave him the opportunity to do exactly that. He felt that Pereira’s style was sharper than that of former light heavyweight champion Jamahal Hill. But he was confident he would walk out of the Octagon at UFC 295 with the title around his waist. Who do you think will win in the Pereira-Prochazka bout? Let us know in the comments section below.

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