Morning Report: Jiri Prochazka admits constant USADA visits are ‘a little bit annoying’
Jiri Prochazka has been tested by USADA more than any other UFC fighter in 2022.
Per USADA records, the current UFC light heavyweight champion is the promotion’s doping agency’s favorite athlete by a significant margin. Prochazka has been tested a whopping 61 times this year. For comparison, the next closest fighters' samples turned in belong to middleweight contender Paulo Costa and strawweight prospect Ariane Carnelossi, clocking in at 20 each. The Brazilian tandem is the only other two out of 749 total fighters with 20 or more samples submitted. Only 33 other fighters aside from Prochazka, Costa, and Carnelossi have been tested 10 or more times.
“Yeah, it’s a little bit annoying,” Prochazka told ESPN of his constant USADA visits. “But if it’s the price to be the champion, I will pay that.
“[It’s been] more than 50 times, I don’t know. I don’t count that.”
Prochazka became champion this past June in Singapore at UFC 275, defeating Glover Teixeira in a Fight of the Year candidate. As one of many comeback title victories in the crazy year of 2022, “Denisa” pulled off a last-minute rear-naked choke to force Teixeira to tap.
Due to the nature of the bout, seeing Teixeira on his way to a successful defense had he not been stopped, Prochazka was less than satisfied with his showing. On Dec. 10 in Las Vegas, the rematch will take place, allowing Prochazka the chance to right his wrongs despite coming out on top in part one.
“I will show my best performance like every time,” Prochazka said. “But I’m just working on my mistakes from the last fight and I don’t want to repeat those mistakes from wrestling, from jiu-jitsu, and show more of my stand-up because I just showed I think about 50, 20 percent.
“I’m fighting because I want to show my best performance. It’s all about that. To be satisfied with that. About satisfaction. I want to be more satisfied with my performance, that’s all I’m about.”
Prochazka, 30, has been one of the most exciting fighters in all of MMA since his arrival in April 2012. Of his 29 career victories in 33 bouts, only once has he won via decision.
Looking to start off his reign with a sharper display against his Brazilian counterpart, the Czech Republic native aims to one day be regarded as the absolute best across all divisions.
“To be the best fighter in the world,” Prochazka said of his goals. “I will prove that I am the best pound-for-pound. That’s the goal and I will achieve that.”
TOP STORIES
Controversy. Michael Chandler on Dustin Poirier’s finger bite at UFC 281: ‘I would have done the exact same thing’
Frustration. Terence Crawford blames ‘business of boxing’ for ruining Errol Spence fight
Freedom. Cain Velasquez asks court for permission to participate in pro wrestling event while out on bail
Enemies. Conor McGregor fires back at retired Khabib Nurmagomedov: ‘Your fear of defeat means you’ve already lost’
Weight. Paddy Pimblett explains process for losing 50 pounds ahead of UFC 282
Beef. Leon Edwards still wants revenge against Jorge Masvidal ‘in the octagon or on the street’
VIDEO STEW
The MMA Hour.
Empire State Staredowns.
2022 PFL Championship Fight Week Ep. 3.
(Well-timed) Free Fight.
Cooking with Volk.
Joe Rogan’s podcast studio.
SOCIAL MEDIA BOUILLABAISSE
Hmm.
State of the ww division …
— Belal Muhammad (@bullyb170) November 21, 2022
Leon’s tryin to avoid usman masvidal is avoiding Gilbert
Cobys avoiding khamzat
Khamzat avoiding his nutritionist
Conor is avoiding Usada pic.twitter.com/yNd86SQFhS
Nice.
Heard from the @ufc tomorrow they will have a answer and a name for #UFC283
— GILBERT BURNS DURINHO (@GilbertDurinho) November 22, 2022
Acabei de escutar do UFC que amanhã eles me darão a resposta com o nome do meu próximo oponente #UFCRio #Anyone @Sanabul @rvcasport pic.twitter.com/CkZOGkoD17
Perspective.
No one can save the world. All this shit is unfixable. Love you and yours. Acquire as much wealth as you can. Create your bubble of like minded people and make the best out of life until it's over.
— Randy Brown (@TouchNgo_) November 21, 2022
Flexing.
Don’t be scared homie. pic.twitter.com/5qtA3B206r
— Conor McGregor (@TheNotoriousMMA) November 21, 2022
Maybe?
Should I drop to Light Heavyweight for my next fight?
— Tanner Boser (@BulldozerBoser) November 22, 2022
Future.
You saw a glimpse of the @InvictaFights rebrand at #InvictaFC50, but have you seen our new phoenix fly yet? How cool is this!? I'm so excited about Invicta FC in 2023! pic.twitter.com/F5BL1D4cMQ
— Shannon Knapp (@shanknapp) November 21, 2022
Primal throwback.
Rawr pic.twitter.com/I60L6kgp3a
— Alpha Cat Zingano (@CatZingano) November 22, 2022
Jon is nuts.
There's levels to this. https://t.co/vpW6GPc6o8
— Full Metal Dojo (@FullMetalDojo) November 22, 2022
Will this fight deliver?
Bellator updated our Bellator 289 fight poster based on last Fridays event! #VirtuallyIdentical@bellatormma @shosports#SupaStots #ConfidentAndFearless #Drip #Bellator #ChampTings #Yuuuhhh #Bellator289 pic.twitter.com/s1GLEUqJcZ
— RAUFEON (@RaufeonStots) November 21, 2022
Worldwide.
A historic 4️⃣th fight goes down in Rio in January!
— UFC_AUSNZ (@UFC_AUSNZ) November 22, 2022
Who takes Part IV at #UFC283 when @Daico_Deiveson and @TheAssassinBaby unify the flyweight title? pic.twitter.com/gck63AhfnG
Make it happen (plus Carmouche vs. Xiong at 125).
-135: Sergio Pettis vs. Lineker/Andrade
— caposa (@Grabaka_Hitman) November 22, 2022
-145: Patricio Pitbull vs. Kai Tang
-155: Usman Nurmagomedov vs. Christian Lee
-170: Yaroslav Amasov vs. Christian Lee
-185: Johnny Eblen vs. Reinier de Ridder
-205: Vadim Nemkov vs. Reinier de Ridder
-265: Ryan Bader vs. Arjan Bhullar https://t.co/Bsq3xUjPgM
FIGHT ANNOUNCEMENTS
Denise Kielholtz (6-4) vs. Ilara Joanne (10-6); Bellator 289, Dec. 9
FINAL THOUGHTS
USADA must think Prochazka is mainlining rocket fuel or something because those numbers are outrageous.
Thanks for reading!
POLL POSITION
Last Week’s Results:
Friday: 51% of 282 total votes answered “UFC Vegas 65” when answered, “Which is the better event this weekend?” Bellator 288 took place on Friday.
Wednesday: 62% of 727 total votes answered “Derrick Lewis” when asked, “Who wins this weekend?” Lewis’ UFC Vegas 65 main event bout against Sergey Spivak was canceled mid-card due to a Lewis illness.
Tuesday: 62% of 885 total votes answered “Yes” when asked, “Should Israel Adesanya get an instant rematch with Alex Pereira?”
Monday: 82% of 902 total votes answered “No” when asked, “Was the Pereira-Adesanya stoppage early?”
Today’s exit poll:
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