Prochazka To 185? ‘I Hope He Doesn’t’

Jiri Prochazka would make a wild addition to Ultimate Fighting Championship’s (UFC) Middleweight division.

To the surprise of many, the former Light Heavyweight champion expressed his interest in changing weight classes after his recent second round technical knockout of Aleksandar Rakic (watch highlights) at UFC 300 earlier this month (April 13, 2024). Ideally, Prochazka hopes to win back the title he lost from injury in late 2022.

Hearing Prochazka’s intentions, former Middleweight champion, Robert Whittaker, isn’t so keen on the prospect.

“I hope he doesn’t,” Whittaker said on his MMArcade Podcast (h/t MMA Junkie) of Prochazka possibly moving down in division. “I really hope he doesn’t. I like the guy a lot, but if he enters the Middleweight division, then we’re enemies. That’s just the nature of the game. They’re all enemies, except for my teammates.”

Whittaker is inching his way back towards a title shot of his own as he’ll next battle Khamzat Chimaev at UFC Saudi Arabia on June 22, 2024. While he can’t imagine someone the size of Prochazka at 185 pounds, “The Reaper” believes it’s achievable.

“I can’t see him at [Middleweight],” Whittaker said. “I’ve seen him in real life. I’ve been up close with him, and he’s big, dude. It’s not just his physical size. He’s got a big frame. Wide shoulders. He’s really tall. He’s 6-foot-4, but he’s a big, big guy. I think he has the mentalities to get [down in weight]. Don’t get me wrong.

“If he wants to get to Middleweight, he’ll do it,” he concluded. “Whether or not it would be a good move, it’s hard to say. He’s smashing it at Light Heavy, and he’s said he’s still got goals there. Stay at Light Heavyweight so we can stay friends.”