Jiri Prochazka maintains gameplan for Alex Pereira rematch at UFC 303: 'I will not change anything'
LAS VEGAS – It looks like Jiri Prochazka’s loss to Alex Pereira won’t affect the way Prochazka approaches the rematch this Saturday.
Despite getting stopped in their first outing in November, Prochazka plans to maintain the same strategy and game plan ahead of UFC 303, which takes place at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. The 31-year-old thinks he has the right idea in the fight with “Poatan,” and it’s just a matter of keeping his game a little tighter.
“I saw that fight many times, but I will not change anything,” Prochazka told reporters at Wednesday’s UFC 303 media day. “I want to do the same right now, this Saturday. I want to do the same, but much better. I want to be more precise in the details, watch the calf kicks just a little bit, and win, just win.”
After their championship bout, Prochazka (30-4-1 MMA, 4-1 UFC) and Pereira (10-2 MMA, 7-1 UFC) followed up with wins in April at UFC 300, with Pereira stopping Jamahal Hill and Prochazka finishing Aleksandar Rakic.
Some are already speculating that if Prochazka were to get his hand raised on Saturday, the result could set up a trilogy for later this year. Prochazka understands the appetite for more fights between the two, but it is not something he wants to entertain at the moment.
“Everybody wants the trilogy, but for me, it doesn’t matter,” Prochazka said. “For me, right now, I’m not thinking about the trilogy, about who will be the next opponent or whatever. Right now, I’m here to win this fight. I’m here to show my best. I’m here to master all the aspects in the fight, that’s all.”
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 303.