Jiri Prochazka is hoping to reclaim the UFC light heavyweight title in summer.
Prochazka relinquished his 205-pound title after he suffered a severe shoulder injury that required surgery. With the division in need of a new champion, the promotion made this past December’s UFC 282 co-headliner between Magomed Ankalaev and Jan Blachowicz for the vacant belt.
But when Ankalaev and Blachowicz battled to a split draw, the belt still had no owner. A frustrated Dana White decided to move on and booked Prochazka’s original opponent, Glover Teixeira, against rising contender Jamahal Hill at UFC 283. Hill dominated the fight and claimed the vacant title.
Now that Prochazka (29-3-1 MMA, 3-0 UFC) finally has a likely opponent, he’s aiming to return by summer.
“I’m working on it,” Prochazka said on the Top Turtle MMA Podcast. “Right now, the main target is to be in full range with that shoulder, to have activated all the muscles around the shoulder, and still building the best conditioning in the game and still work on the movement.
“I’d like to be (back) this summer or the end of this summer. It doesn’t matter. I will watch how it goes, everything, and by that we can fight maybe earlier or maybe later. But I think this summer is real to be ready and to be the champion.”
Prochazka’s decision to vacate the title was an honorable one, but it’s something he didn’t necessarily have to do. But the 30-year-old stands by his decision.
“There’s no regrets,” Prochazka said. “There’s no regrets. I don’t regret nothing. Everything – what I did was necessary, even the injury. Everything has a reason, so I’m good with everything. I’m just happy with how everything went.
“When I will be back in full power, I will be the champion. I am the champion right now, but I will be on paper the champion and I’m looking forward to the next challenges.”