Jiri Prochazka out of UFC 282, vacates LHW title after suffering shoulder injury | ESPN MMA

ESPN MMA’s Brett Okamoto discusses the news of Jiri Prochazka suffering a significant shoulder injury, causing him to withdraw from UFC 282 and vacate the light heavyweight title.
#UFC #UFC282 #Prochazka
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[@mavvynne444]

He would rather vacate his championship belt than holding it up. What a true warrior with a great sense of honor. Mad respect for Jiri🙏🏻💯

[@blablablaa14]

Frankly either way, he is going to get a title fight immediately when he returns. But he did give up that PPV money on that fight being that he vacated the title. Jiri is a good dude

[@marshawnfleming2873]

Respect

[@caterpillardogg]

Andy Wang would disagree with you

[@petergarrett3481]

A real martial artist

[@robertm9490]

Exactly! Jiri is the man!

[@Michael-vg3yx]

I can’t believe he gave up the belt. What a true warrior.

[@TihetrisWeathersby]

Shoulder injuries are very serious, He wanted to still fight, The man truly is a warrior

[@jaysheriffe6292]

yeah but it would have been a terrible idea even if it wasn't serious. Just look a TJ vs Aljo the other day.

[@tonyrosales915]

Bummed to hear the news, I hope for a speedy recovery. Jiri is an exciting fighter who everyone respects. He'll be back better than ever...

[@goldengilmaky6788]

A man of honor. Unfortunately, the world no longer has enough men of this caliber. What a lad!

[@semlapa9864]

mad respect for Jiri, a special warrior inside and outside the Octagon, wish Aljo learn something from this situation, Aljo did the shoulder surgery and hold-up the bantamweight division for a long time with his oscar winning performance

[@elijahhouston8494]

people stay hating on aljo u must be a yan fan get over the first fight and accept he got whooped the 2nd time around

[@semlapa9864]

@Elijah Houston it was at ufc 273, Aljo won via split decision, never know spilit decision won is considered as whooping, the fight between Aljo vs. Marlon Moraes fight was real whooping when Aljo got k.o.ed while dabbing

[@livingforgod7693]

Aljo is a great martial artist and seems like a good dude. No reason to hate on the dude except just to hate. He's the champ. Stay salty.

[@bigboydownstairs9651]

Aljo's a beast you little casual. And don't forget to smile you salty mfer!

[@saadsalman2261]

@@elijahhouston8494but it’s true tho aljo did hold up the division but most people aren’t jiri

[@ian1387g]

It must have been a very serious injury. And it also shows the honor of Jiri not letting the division get held up. Hopefully he gets rewarded with a title shot on his return

[@MattHanr]

A full rotator cuff tear requires surgery, then 3 months recovery where it’s immobilized. Then physiotherapy to get it normal for 6 weeks. Then you’ve got to start over with strength training and striking / wresting but easing into it or re-injur. Chances are 70% to have the same injury and that’s for just day-to-day life, let alone fighting. He may never be the same again, I wasn’t… but he is special so I’m hopeful

[@deryfathurrahmanp.4142]

of course Jiri deserves a title fight after he recovers because he is a true reigning champion who is willing to give up his title to keep LHW going

[@manuel_sotelo7798]

@Abby The Hound Dog he fought with an injury wat r u on

[@beauaIloevv]

pull out merchant. usada caught him, it’s not a shoulder injury . 6 months out . kids not seeing it smh

[@kc6401]

@@beauaIloevv your 2e hateful comment you must be bitter at life. i hope you get better

[@jasonred3874]

Ankalaev new LHW champion would be insane 😯

[@Sam29611]

man paul craig owns him

[@HH-qz1cg]

No one on the lhw roster can beat jones so the belt doesn’t mean anything

[@ryantiarno4294]

@@Sam29611 the past is past.

[@jaysheriffe6292]

@@HH-qz1cg thats a stupid way to look at it.

[@shafqatishan437]

@@Sam29611 just like Adriano Martins is the 155 champ right now

[@natemarx4999]

I feel really bad for Glover. He may end up retiring after this. He is going on 45, he doesn’t have much chances. The guy was literally a minute away from defending his title.

[@Sam29611]

It is his fault he declined, he could have accepted the rematch in a fight he won silly by Glover to decline. Silly boy

[@joseg2994]

Youth is why he lost

[@rm-lv8ex]

​@@Sam29611 glover received an offer to fight with Ankalaev, he refused because he was only interested fighting jan

[@TheeMMADude]

I agree, he should have taken the fight though.

[@sandman62100]

I was hoping they would do Anthony Smith vs Jamahal Hill for the vacant title. Honestly neither Magomed nor Jan deserve the shot. Magomed and Jan both won their last fights due to freak injury.

[@henrylopez3860]

Please tell me this is an out of season April’s fools joke.

[@turtlepowersf]

Unfortunately it's not, and I've heard it's a really bad injury

[@techniquephysique]

Exactly

[@Sam29611]

yeah it is

[@Sam29611]

@@turtlepowersf nah i heard its a good injury

[@ricardobjj24]

That's heartbreaking for Jiri but at least he's not holding up the division so much respect to him. I wonder who will step in for him

[@hassaneldemerdash5509]

it’s now magomed ankalaev vs jan blachowitz

[@oldironsides4107]

Jan and ankalaev will make for a very terrrible fight. It was co main already and both are very good but 2 counterstrikers will make for a bland fight. I wonder why glover turned down fighting one of them for the title as Reported. He made easy work of Jan. Maybe he wanted a camp to prepare for ankalaev but his time is short

[@harald2101]

@@oldironsides4107 this fight will be great. They are two warriors as well

[@theshittyrestaurant]

The champion has a name, and it's Jiri Prochazka

[@RomekTheCreator]

Respect to Jiri for giving up the belt, but totally gutted for the dude! Hopefully is shoulder surgery goes great and he comes back close to 100%, however, it might be a career ending injury 🤕

[@LordHolley]

Yeah, I'm really surprised he gave it up so quickly. We have watched Woodley and others milk those titles for years with whatever excuse they could come up with. Have to him mad props, it's good for us as fans, but He definitely would have made more money with ads and other stuff if he sat on that title for another 6 months and then gave it up.

[@RomekTheCreator]

@@LordHolley Very true!

[@Westcoast3d2a]

Look how long Francis has been on the side lines dude rarely fights, this is some bs it should be interim not vacated.. there’s been a lot of champions who sat out for over a year for injuries smh

[@m0rxy_]

Wishing the champ a speedy recovery

[@Sam29611]

he isnt the champ

[@blaynegreiner9365]

@@Sam29611 Talk about splitting hairs lol

[@Sam29611]

@Abby The Hound Dog yeah why?

[@benwilsonMMA]

I think Ankalaev takes it by decision pretty dominantly , Jan is just too old.

[@jaysheriffe6292]

"too old" people have been saying that about glover for years now, you cant rule someone out completely just because of their age. I do have Magomed as the winner, but i dont see it being a 5 round stomp.

[@shafqatishan437]

@@jaysheriffe6292 glover has great ground game. It's different for Jan.

[@jaysheriffe6292]

@@shafqatishan437 And Jan has the power to put out an elephant with a single punch. Regardless of means of victory my point still stands, even in his late thirties Jan shouldn't be seen as a pushover is all im saying.

[@benwilsonMMA]

@@jaysheriffe6292 yeah but the wrestler style of glover holds up much better to age. I shoulda phrased it better, I didn't mean Ankalaev stomps him, I think itll be a technical battle with Ankalaev slightly outclassing him for 25 mins

[@joost3952]

@@benwilsonMMA Jan has been and still is being underestimated all the time! But ye in the wrestling department I do see him gettingg outclassed unfortunately

[@juliussvk7169]

jiri is a special person and great champ.he will come back and beat anyone who holds his belt.speedy recovery jiri.

[@dominicsuyo4064]

Respect for Jiri for giving others the title shot instead of holding up the belt like Francis Ngannou

[@DramaScenes1]

Id agree with this comment only if francis didnt fight injured. He fought while injured and won his fight. He can hold onto his belt for me (not forever obviously)

[@mavvynne444]

Ngannou and Aljo should take note from him

[@Adontheimperfectionist]

I don't want to hear any Jiri Prochazka disrespect after this... dude vacated the title so he wouldn't hold up the division.

[@youabeach9701]

Mad respect for him for not holding up the division.

[@UNSTABLE111]

This is actually kind of unheard of ..to Voluntarily and willingly vacate your belt because of an injury and not wanting to slow down the division is pretty honorable..Props to Jiri.

[@bcagz9835]

This sucks for everyone involved. Jiri never even got paid champ money to defend the belt. This dude really is a Samurai and he will be back I’m sure.

[@joeskill4663]

Nooo..😭😢,, Pray for a full recovery 🙏🏽

[@davidmcneejr.977]

So upset about that news! I was looking forward to this rematch! Get well soon champ!💪🏻

[@TihetrisWeathersby]

This sucks I was really looking forward to this fight, The first fight was great

[@DynastyIcon]

hearing that he might be out a year 😖 it must be really bad.. but much respect for Jiri for not holding the division up 💯 feel bad for Glover tho man.. understand him not wanting to take a short notice title fight, hopefully he gets to fight the winner 💯 wish Jiri a speedy recovery 🙏🙏

[@aidanphalen1695]

I mean good on him for being upfront and honest, he’ll be back

[@yoitsdan]

I want Jiri to know that I fully respect his decision to vacate his title. He will be back.

[@TemporaryJ]

Heal up soon Champ!!

[@bobdolesghost2406]

Respect for vacating even tho it wasn't his fault.

[@Jeremyramone]

Dang shoulder injuries are notorious for recurring, especially considering the severe taxing mma puts on the body.

[@thehighcommunity247]

Most people would try n rush their recovery, strictly in order to be able to defend 12 months out from their last fight...all so that they don't lose their title. That is unnecessary stress on the fighter...physically and mentally. They would compromise their serious injury not being able to heal properly. That is never worth it. He took a logical approach to this unfortunate event. Plus, I have a feeling that he fully believes that when he is all healed up at some point down the line...that he can get the title back.

[@mikeman787]

True Warrior

[@Dingleberry69420]

Jiri a real one for this.

[@martinrobidoux5023]

Ngannou should take notice

[@haya1512]

All that time in the darkness with the belt.. N this happens. Kudos to him for vacating

[@anthonycukier1807]

The one time an interim title makes sense, they don't do it.

[@win6676]

a true martial.artist

[@KptKlutch]

So because Glover didn’t want the Ankalaev fight, he offered to fight Jan for the belt as a rematch, the UFC declined this offer and turned around and matched Jan vs Ankalaev. How does this make any sense, they remove Glover from the title picture and literally match up the guy he offered to fight with the guy he declined to fight seems like a scumbag power move by the UFC to push Glover out of the picture.

[@MarkSmith-qk2rl]

What a true champion !!

[@Dexterity00]

Glover vs Jan 2 for the belt!

[@habowtat3576]

Did you listen to the video? Glover declined. It's Jan vs magomed for the interim belt now

[@jasonred3874]

Jan need to pass through Ankalaev first before that happen 🤕

[@jasiahperez9547]

@@habowtat3576 it’s not a interim belt it’s for the LHW Championship

[@habowtat3576]

@@jasiahperez9547 ehhh they can call it that, but In my mind JIRI is still champ. Those guys gotta get through JIRI when he returns to convince me of that

[@Sam29611]

glover decline like scared cat meow

[@zachfujioka-silva1698]

I'm assuming now that Jan vs Ankalaev will also be elevated to rounds.

[@ElCyberWizard]

What an underwhelming year of fights compared to 2021.

[@blackslav1497]

Hey Brett!

[@furitoraUfc]

I don't get Glover. Just fight dude, what do you have to lose. You are a complete Fighter with a recent fight camp. Don't get it.

[@blaynegreiner9365]

I wish more fighters had such integrity *cough* Francis...

[@GoodStuff1992]

Francis fought with his injury and gave the fans what they wanted. Jiri pussed out.

[@michaeldadon2325]

The main card is still short 1 fight… hope we could add Derrick Lewis and Spivac on it for a co-main

[@Explorer-fy7qg]

I respect Aljamjn Sterling for staying with a Belt after an injury for almost 8 months

[@mmamath9427]

A class act. Man would rather vacate the belt than hold it up. This exact same thing has happened to Francis Ngannou, and the entire heavyweight division has waited now an entire year.. How different are these guys

[@LordHolley]

Unbelievable!

[@tvojemanka]

Gutted, the Czech domination is put on hold. But boy I hope the LHW division stays alert and ready, cause whoever has that belt, when He gets back, is getting destroyed.

[@syedfawaz8090]

How did he get injured all of a sudden?

[@Sambigs9112]

How did he hurt it?

[@TheLoganSomers]

Hmmm no interim? They’ve kept new champs on the sideline waaaaayyyyyy longer 😮

[@wooltank6877]

1st: What T.J. Dillashaw should've done 2nd: As much as it sucks for Glover, Jan was a quality champ and Ankalaev's an amazing contender. Won't be as fun as Prochazka-Teixeira 2 but still a hype main event

[@TheShockninja]

...dang. That's just not fair.

[@MntRprznt]

Which injury is fair?

[@TheShockninja]

Fair point, but to have it happen days before the fight is just terrible in the sense of timing.

[@bobsmith962]

Brett "mouth piece of UFC brass" Okamoto

[@Dynamo_066]

UFC: Hey Glover want to fight Ankalaev on short notice? Glover: Umm no Imma let Jan take that one and hopefully I can just rematch Jan 👀

[@sillynelson1]

Glover better get the next title shot

[@AndresFnt]

NO!!!! 😭

[@LambSauceWill]

Why not do Jan vs Glover for the vacant belt?

[@johngalt1555]

Oh snap

[@danabrownprivaledge]

Aljo should take notes

[@lfmm97]

This is also awful news for the division. Jiri was a breath of fresh air in that division and the little rivalry he has with Glover would have made a very interesting rematch between them, and now all of a sudden they're both out of the picture. Interest in that division has been quite low overall in the past few years especially since Jon left, but now this might be a whole new low. Sure, there was a little spike in interest when Adesanya went up to fight Blachowicz and it sold like 800 or 900k PPV's if I'm not mistaken, but that was a one-off and Adesanya was obviously the main pull for that fight. With all due respect to Blachowicz and Ankalaev, I don't think anyone except the more hardcore UFC fans will be excited for them to fight for the belt, just feels kind of meh. No one's fault, though, it's just unfortunate.

[@Machine0228]

Glover might as well retire at this point, hornable move by Jiri. He could have easily said to make an interim title fight because I'm injured.

[@jbitts]

The need a new big fight asap to save this ppv

[@natemarx4999]

Unlike Francis who is completely holding up the heavyweight title, Jiri did the honorable thing by vacating it.

[@Ghost-pe2tm]

you’re an idiot

[@natemarx4999]

@@Ghost-pe2tmI know you are, but what am i? 🫠

[@dimitarbelchev3062]

And the worst part is that Francis isn't even a PPV attraction

[@matthewa7503]

Yeah Francis completely lost my interest due to inactivity

[@ableton909]

He's doing it as leverage against Dana White during contract negotiations

[@diggitydank1083]

That sucks for Glover.

[@MAQ123]

i feel he tore his achilles

[@zochhuanawmazote1658]

Its so unfair?? WHY just wait his time to recover? They can make the Interim Title fight whoever deserved it..

[@michaeltrujillo4149]

Kinda crazy to give the belt away after just getting it, but Conor and Khabib can hold up the division for years at a time. Friggin wack. Should have just made an Interim belt like they always do.

[@LivingOutVariousExperiences]

Run his Fights cmon ESPN Hire me on the social media team

[@TheClots]

sad Glover is not fighting but if he declined the fight its kind of his fault hope he fights the winner in a few months

[@-jovoc]

He cut his hair, lost his mojo

[@luffebassen]

He should leave the USADA testing pool and get the "treatment" Connor got ;-) Superman healing power! After 3 months out, he can opt back in and be back in 9 months instead of 6 and have had 3 months of SUPER healing with HGH. 9mo is probably what he will be out as a minimum anyways if not more. So i would take the Connor option 100%

[@GalactusOG]

true warrior.

[@ravii1307]

Meanwhile Francis ngaanno : who the hook is this guy.. 🤣🤣

[@jasontheworldisyours]

And New Magomed

[@MrFoolD]

Shame! I was looking forward to this fight, not sure all buy the ppv now.

[@Michael-vg3yx]

Him not fighting all year is going to SUCK

[@homework9102]

Very sad

[@charlesdobronxcharlesdobro4660]

Ufc has gotten really boring without the champ champ …. Connor’s coming back for Tree belts

[@TheeMMADude]

Glover blew it, that was his last chance he should have took it. I get the dangers in a new opponent last minute but with his age everyday that passes by is to his detriment.

[@shafqatishan437]

No he didn't, he would've lost. Now he has a guaranteed title shot with full camp. He already had the belt so there was no reason for him to take such a huge risk.

[@KptKlutch]

He also offered to fight Jan not Ankalaev, and the UFC pushed him out of the picture and matched those two up instead of Jan VS Glover. Lol

[@djpeabody32]

Why cant they do an interim title to let Jiri heal and maintain Glover vs Jiri for the true title and let Jan and Ankalaev fight for interim and make the winners of the 2 title fights battle for an uncontested title victory. Jiri won the title its dumb to let him forfeit pay per view points because he is trying to do the honorable thing and live like a samurai. Please don't let the guy throw his higher purse away because he wants to be humble and respectful to the other warriors.

[@franciscosandiego3026]

Chael is the goat of mma that's all.

[@Razear]

Sounds serious. Glover will probably be retired by then and they will likely never rematch. And since Glover turned down Ankalaev on short notice, he'll likely never get another title shot again since his next fight will likely be his last. Glover getting screwed over on his way out.

[@flatsfishingonline]

I cannot believe the pullouts......all that suffer are fans. Francis, no fight in a year.

[@sentientslug3259]

These belts are getting cheaper and cheaper. No value. How does the UFC just give the belt away. it should not be a title fight. if the belt is vacated then Glover deserves to have the right amount of time to prepare for an opponent in order to fight for the belt again. If glover was the able bodies fighter fighting for the title then he should be the next person fighting for the title. But to just put together a "title fight" with 2 completely different fighters for the sake of it is senseless.

[@sentientslug3259]

@@isikcan1530 Yes, I expect that. if the championship fight is off, and the champion is injured, does it rally make a F*$*g difference if the next fight in line magically becomes a title fight? how did you get to me expecting them to cancel the entire event? im saying dont make Jan's fight a title fight just because. Just leave it as it is.

[@zochhuanawmazote1658]

Mean while Francis Ngannou still hold the Heavey Weight Title after along period of time since his last Fight.. Jiri last fight was just a Quarter of Year..

[@GoodStuff1992]

Francis was a real warrior. He was injured fought with his injury and didn't pull out like Jiri. Francis should be commended.

[@blueboat9581]

Never give up the title. This is insane

[@maslofet]

you need to understand Jiris mentality in order to understand why he did that

[@blueboat9581]

@@maslofet I understand the mentality and still don't care. I only care about the ppv points

[@fyvp007]

Dammit talk abt bad things happening to good ppl, sucks for Jiri and Glover

[@surfbum44]

Nooooooooo

[@user-cc5tx8dz2u]

Can’t have another tj aljo one shoulder fight

[@alexpopowski1318]

T.J Dillashaw joined the chat.

[@weroliera]

Wow f ing jiri is a straight gangster

[@dimitarbelchev3062]

Brett looks like a mac user

[@keenanz9882]

Meanwhile coner holding two divisions belt for years

[@Stipe_Tapped]

Sucks that he won't get ppv points now...

[@charlescharlemagne4907]

thanks for delivering the news in the most monotone way possible, Sleepy Brett

[@rizals_archive]

Ankalaev is monster🤣

[@Exbo9000]

Paradigm lost two champions and gained one within a year. Izzy and Jiri are now no longer champions, but at least Leon has a belt.