Jiri Prochazka UFC 320 open workout scrum, talks Khalil Rountree
Jiri Prochazka speaks before UFC 320 open workout in Las Vegas, breaking down the matchup with Khalil Rountree Jr.
LAS VEGAS – Jiri Prochazka wants to show an improved version on fight night.
Specifically, the former UFC light heavyweight champion hopes to display a much more mature style, but also a more dangerous one, too. Prochazka (31-5-1 MMA, 5-2 UFC), who takes on Khalil Rountree Jr. (14-6 MMA, 10-6 UFC) on the main card of Saturday’s UFC 320, thinks he’s fighting someone who posses the same skills he wants to hone, making this bout a great opportunity to show what he’s been working on.
“I think he’s a dynamic, fast and a tough fighter. He knows how to go long rounds,” Prochazka told MMA Junkie and other reporters Monday at the UFC Performance Institute. “This is something that I needed, to have more patience in the fight and to not want to end it as soon as possible. I think that’s my strongest weapon and the other side is a little bit bad because I want to end it as soon as possible. So I’m going all the time. Every attack has to go through. That’s what I worked on. To work lightly, to be precise, and with that to have deadly attacks.”
Prochazka called for a title shot in his most recent outing, when he beat fellow former champion Jamahal Hill. Unfortunately for him, he didn’t get the call. Instead, Alex Pereira got an immediate rematch against Magomed Ankalaev just a couple of pay-per-view events after Prochazka stopped Hill. Pereira looks to get back his light heavyweight title against Ankalaev in the UFC 320 main event.
Prochazka is focused on Rountree, but also wants to make clear his intentions for the future.
“Right now, I’m focused just on Khalil and last one after Jamahal Hill, after my fight with Jamahal Hill, I spoke already about my title fight, so I think now it’s my time to go for the title,” Prochazka said. “But still, I’m humble, and I don’t want to speak about the next phases. Right now, I’m totally focused on Khalil. I don’t want to be focused on the future.”
Regardless of what the future hold for Prochazka, the Czech fighter is eager to step in the cage once again.
“I’m always excited to show my performance to show that I made a step-up since the last preparation in January, so that’s it,” Prochazka said. “I’m just excited to be here and finally to go back to the cage.”
