Why Did Jiri Prochazka Vacate His Lhw Title? All You Need to Know About UFC Star’s Bold Move

The UFC’s light heavyweight division has been going through a lot of hurdles over the past few years. Ever since UFC star Jon Jones left the division, there hasn’t been a de facto champion in the 205 lbs category. Back in 2022, fans thought that they were going to get a dominant light heavyweight champ, when Jiri Prochazka and Glover Teixeira fought each other at UFC 275 for the belt.

Prochazka ended up winning that fight via a 5th-round submission. Next, he would defend his belt against the Brazilian in a rematch. However, the Znojmo-born fighter had to opt out of the fight. Moreover, he ended up vacating his title, just a few months after winning it.

Why did Jiri Prochazka renounce his UFC light heavyweight title?

Merely weeks before his first title defense, Prochazka endured a horrific injury to his right shoulder. The injury happened during one of the training sessions and sidelined ‘Denisa’ for more than a year. Due to the long period of inactivity, UFC and Prochazka decided to vacate the title. The excruciating pain wrought on by the injury incapacitated him for a while, much to everyone’s chagrin.

Read More – How Many Losses Does the UFC Light Heavyweight Jiri Prochazka Have?

Fans got to know the true seriousness of the injury when Prochazka updated the MMA world about his recovery some months later. While talking to Ariel Helwani at The MMA Hour Show, the former champion revealed that multiple muscles were missing from his shoulder.

“I feel it like it’s a superpower now because I have to work with four-five new muscles what I have [now] because last five years there were like five muscles missing.” Now, Jiri Prochazka returns to capture the title he never lost and to claim back what is rightfully is.

Joe Rogan’s views on Jiri Prochazka’s injury

The entire MMA scene was shocked to hear about Prochazka’s career altering injury. Popular UFC commentator and podcast host Joe Rogan also revealed his thoughts in one of the JRE episodes. “His shoulder was the worst shoulder they had ever seen,” he said.

Further, the UFC commentator explained how Prochazka sustained this injury. “His shoulder went out of the socket at training camp and they tried to put it back in. And these dudes are yanking on him,” Rogan revealed. “They f*cked it up way worse. Go to the f*cking doctor, you are a world champion,” he added. With just a few days to go for UFC 295, do you think Jiri Prochazka can win the title back? Let us know in the comments below.

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