Jiri Prochazka to serve as UFC 267 backup for Jan Blachowicz vs. Glover Teixeira title fight

Jiri Prochazka officially has been tabbed as the backup fighter for the UFC 267 main event.

Jan Blachowicz(28-8 MMA, 11-5 UFC) is set to defend his light heavyweight title against Glover Teixeira (32-7 MMA, 15-5 UFC) on Oct. 30, and should either fighter fail to make it to the fight, Prochazka (28-3-1 MMA, 2-0 UFC) will fill in.

MMA Junkie confirmed the news with a person close to the situation following an initial report from MMA Fighting.

Prochazka, who has taken the division by storm with two knockouts of former title challengers Volkan Oezdemir and Dominick Reyes, will fly to Abu Dhabi and weigh in as a backup fighter.

Though rising contender Aleksandar Rakic called for a No. 1 contender bout with Prochazka, the former Rizin light heavyweight champion firmly has his eyes set on gold and previously claimed he was willing to wait for the winner of Blachowicz and Teixeira.