Prochazka wants Teixeira rematch, aiming for decisive win
UFC light heavyweight champion Jiri Prochazka has shifted his focus to a rematch with Glover Teixeira.
After initially declaring he wants his first title defense to come against Jan Blachowicz, Prochazka said Monday he's now interested in running it back with the man he defeated at UFC 275 in June.
"I made a (decision) for next fight. I want to fight Glover the next fight," Prochazka said in a video posted to Twitter. "Not because it will be another big fight, but just one reason: my performance was bad in first fight. I will show you why I am the champion. Clearly. Decisively.
"And I think Glover deserves it. So here's the offer. I will show you why I'm the champion."
Prochazka and Teixeira delivered one of the greatest title bouts in UFC history. Both fighters enjoyed near-win moments before Prochazka, down on the scorecards, tapped Teixeira with a rear-naked choke with seconds left in the fifth round.
After the fight, Teixeira challenged Prochazka to an immediate rematch and has continued to make the case for one in the weeks since. But Prochazka said a fight with Blachowicz, the former champion whom Teixeira beat last October to win the title, was his No. 1 priority. Blachowicz is coming off a TKO win over Aleksandar Rakic - the stoppage occurred after Rakic tore his ACL - in May.
Prochazka, the first UFC champion to hail from the Czech Republic, improved to 3-0 in the Octagon with the victory over Teixeira.