
Jiri Prochazka e Jamahal hill face each other in UFC 311. Photo: Super Fights Montage
the fight between Jiri Prochazka e Jamahal hill that happens on the main card of UFC 311, this Saturday (18), in California (USA), is full of controversies behind the scenes. Starting with the Alex Poatán, which inflamed things.
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As soon as the fight between the two former light heavyweight champions (up to 93kg) was announced, the Brazilian made a post on social media provoking the American. 'Calm down my son, pass this test and your father will give you a second chance', he wrote. (see below)
Calm down, my son. Pass this test and Dad will give you a second chance.
Calm down my son, pass this test and your father will give you a second chance. pic.twitter.com/ywr6gqj9XG
— Alex “Poatan” Pereira (@AlexPereiraUFC) November 29, 2024
In the world of MMA, the term 'father' is used humorously and symbolically to describe a fighter who dominates or has complete control over another fighter in a fight or in repeated encounters. This term comes from the idea that the 'dominant' fighter behaves as if he were an authority figure, almost like a father lecturing his son. When a fighter consistently or repeatedly beats another fighter, fans or even other fighters may joke that he is the 'father' of that opponent.
From then on, Jiri Prochazka e Jamahal hill started the 'Cold War' before they actually stepped into the octagon. One criticizing the other's performance, trying to prove who was the 'least worst' against the Brazilian. With Poatan watching everything from the box (and probably proud of the small flame lit between the rivals). In fact, the American came to speak that 'the Czech fighter who was dominated by Poatan, while he was caught'. Which does not change the final result of the fight.
Now, this Saturday, Prochazka and Hill have a chance for redemption. It promises to be a great fight, since both know that a defeat could complicate things in one of the most balanced divisions in the Ultimate. But as for coincidences, the Czech and the American only have the fact that they were champions in the category and are 'sons' of Poatan. In practice, the two fighters are very different in their personalities.
Jiri Prochazka, the 'Zen Samurai'
Jiri Prochazka is the UFC samurai. Photo: Reproduction/Instagram @ufc
Dubbed the 'Czech Samurai' by fans and the media, Jiri boasts a calm and controlled, both inside and outside the octagon. The former champion's journey with samurai mysticism began about eight years ago, when his coach gave him 'The Book of Five Rings'. The work, a treatise on strategy and martial arts, especially kenjutsu (Japanese fencing), awakened a fascination in the fighter that remains with him to this day.
The first meeting with Poatan was on November 11, 2023, at UFC 295, which took place at the Madison Square Garden gym in New York. The MMA world was waiting to see who the new owner would be. of the vacant belt of the UFC light heavyweight division, left by Jamahal hill after suffering a serious injury. A former middleweight champion (up to 83,9 kg), the fighter from São Paulo was looking to become the organization's double champion. At the end of the second round, Prochazka collapsed after receiving a clean cross to the face, giving the victory by knockout and also the title to the Brazilian.
The rematch took place on June 29, 2024, at UFC 303, in Las Vegas. Alex Poatán accepted the challenge of taking on the leading role in the event after the drop in Conor McGregor. After the Czech was saved by the bell in the first round, the Brazilian connected a clean high kick to the head at the beginning of the second round, knocking out his opponent immediately. Prochazka had his plans to regain the belt frustrated once again.
Even with the two defeats to Poatan, there is no resentment in Prochazka's words. The Czech fighter always mention some learning that he had before the Brazilian, in a humble posture, typical of a samurai. And, even though this 'son' lost twice, he wants a trilogy with his rival.
“I made the best of it. It wasn’t so much about the performance that night, but about the preparation for that fight, and I had to change many, many things. So in the last few months, I really worked on that, what to do, what not to do, what not to repeat. So here I am and ready for the next fight [against Poatan]. Every loss, every victory is the highlight of the career. So every battle, it doesn’t matter if it’s a victory. Win or lose, there’s always the chance to make the best of this experience of every fight,” said the Czech in one of his interviews.
Prochazka is also known for his exotic training. The MMA community jokes that they never see the Czech fighter sparring in a gym. A karate specialist, he prefers something more spiritual, worthy of martial arts films from the last century. (watch below)
At 32, Jiri Prochazka He is a very experienced fighter, with a record of 30 wins, five losses and one draw. The Czech fighter has been in the UFC since 2020.
Jamahal Hill, the outrageous
J. Hill after victory over Glover Teixeira. Photo: Reproduction/Instagram
Unlike Prochazka, Jamahal hill is much more explosive and provocative. The victory over Glover Teixeira in front of 13 thousand people at the Jeunesse Arena, in Rio de Janeiro, made the American gain even more antipathy from Brazilians. And that only got worse after Hill applied knockouts to Thiago Marreta Saints and Johnny Walker.
But the green and yellow revenge came on April 13, 2024, in UFC 300, in Las Vegas. After Glover, the provocateur Jamahal hill now promised to recover the belt in front of Alex Poatán. But it was the Brazilian who avenged his tutor. The champion needed little more of three minutes to 'erase' the opponent with a clean cross to the chin. 'Sweet Dreams' had sweet dreams and Poatan retained the title.
After the defeat to Poatan in UFC 300, a flood of Brazilian provocations began on the fighter's social networks. Hill's arrogant manner did not spare even the fans, who were even challenged by him to enter the octagon to face him.
While Prochazka says he learned lessons from his defeats to Poatan, Hill always finds an excuse for the setback or acts disrespectfully towards the Brazilian. The most recent case was in December of last year, when the two fighters they caused a mess at the UFC Performance Institute and which almost ended in physical violence… and without gloves. (watch below)
This is gold! Jamahal hill e Alex Poatán met at UFC PI. Poatan threw his gloves at Hill and called him to a fight. The American didn't accept.
The two were restrained by Plinio Cruz and Pablo Sucupira, from Fighting Nerds. What madness!
— Igor Ribeiro (@igorribeiromma) December 5, 2024
Hill has a good vision for fighting and is a natural knockout artist, so much so that he has earned the nickname 'Sweet Dreams'. The American has already knocked out two Brazilians in the UFC, Thiago Marreta Saints and Johnny Walker. With the victories over these two more Glover Teixeira, Jamahal could be called the 'Father of Brazil'. If it weren't for Alex Poatán...
At 33, Jamahal hill has a record of 12 wins and two losses. In the organization since 2020, the American has never had a losing streak, which could be a dangerous warning for Prochazka.
What awaits the winner?
Magomed Ankalayev should be the next opponent of Alex Poatán. Photo: Reproduction/Instagram
Defeat is a possibility that is far from the minds of the two former light heavyweight champions. More than the belt, the second and third placed in the ranking want the chance to knock Alex Poatán. Whether through the path of challenge or revenge.
But who said that a journey towards a goal has no obstacles? In this case, there are two. One of them is the first place in the ranking, Magomed Ankalayev. The fighter from the Republic of Dagestan remains undefeated in the UFC and will likely be Poatan's next challenge, as he has managed to avoid his rival so far. Many see him as a threat to the Brazilian's gold.
Jon Jones expects to face Poatan in the heavyweight division. Photo: Reproduction/UFC India
The other fact is the will to Alex Poatán to move up to the heavyweight division (up to 120,2kg) to face the current champion and MMA legend Jon Jones. Close to retirement, 'Bones' also faces a problem similar to that of the Brazilian who goes by the name Tom aspinall. Many also believe that the interim champion can dethrone the North American.
Whether it will be against Poatan or Ankalaev, Jiri Prochazka e Jamahal hill don't have that answer yet. But certainly the winner of the confrontation UFC 311 will be in the running again.
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