Jiri Prochazka wants to succeed UFC champion Dricus Du Plessis: “I will make things clear up there and get the belt”

[autotag]Jiri Prochazka[/autotag] has confirmed his interest in a possible move to middleweight.

Prochazka (30-5-1 MMA, 4-2 UFC) has now lost twice to light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira by knockout. Aside from Pereira, Prochazka has defeated all four of his other UFC opponents.

Prochazka sees no problems making 185 pounds and said a move down to the lower category would depend on the outcome of the middleweight title fight between the champions. [autotag]Dricus Du Plessis[/autotag] (22-2 MMA, 8-0 UFC) and Israel Adesanya at UFC 305. Du Plessis eventually defeated Adesanya in round 4.

“If Adesanya wins, I’ll stay at light heavyweight, but if Du Plessis wins, I’ll follow him,” Prochazka said in Czech, according to the translation of his YouTube channel. “I’ll clean up a bit there and take the belt. But I feel good and strong at light heavyweight, even if the guys there are a bit heavier.”

“Almost all of them. So I have to say that physically and strength-wise I have no problem knocking them out, but it would certainly be a challenge for me to get the (middleweight) belt and then move up. But I’m really going to let it go and see how it goes.”

If Prochazka stays at light heavyweight, he’s open to facing Jamahal Hill next, but says that fight isn’t currently on the cards. Like Prochazka, Hill most recently lost to Pereira by knockout.

“It’s interesting because there have been no negotiations or discussions with the manager or anyone else,” Prochazka said. “I just sent a message about Hill, just as an informational message, and I’m not sure if anything has progressed or if anyone has revealed anything. But at the moment it’s all just speculation.”

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This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: Jiri Prochazka wants to succeed UFC champion Dricus Du Plessis: “I will make things clear and get the belt”