Jiri Prochazka is set to face Khalil Rountree Jr. at UFC 320, but he’ll pull double duty that week just in case he’s needed.
The former light heavyweight champion is expected to serve as the official backup for the title fight happening that same night when Magomed Ankalaev puts his title on the line in a rematch against Alex Pereira. Prochazka’s team confirmed the news to MMA Fighting on Monday after he first mentioned his additional role when speaking to Yahoo! Sports.
The UFC often employs backup fighters just in case disaster strikes and the main event takes a hit but this is even easier with Prochazka already scheduled on the same card.
The biggest difference for Prochazka is hitting the 205-pound limit for a potential title shot if he’s needed. He’s currently scheduled for a non-title fight, which means he could usually hit the scale with a one-pound allowance.
Obviously, Prochazka has history with Pereira after falling to the Brazilian on two separate occasions in the past but that doesn’t mean a third fight is out of the realm of possibility. Of course, Prochazka has never faced Ankalaev before so that’s an entirely new matchup for both fighters.
Serving as the backup doesn’t offer any guarantees as far as future opportunities but Prochazka getting the nod could set him up for a potential title shot if he gets through Rountree in October.
Prochazka already dispatched another former champion in Jamahal Hill with his latest win and taking out Rountree could put him in position to challenge whoever is left standing between Ankalaev and Pereira.
UFC 320 goes down from the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas on Oct. 4 with Ankalaev vs. Pereira 2 serving as the main event with bantamweight champion Merab Dvalishvili defending his title against Cory Sandhagen in the co-main event. Prochazka’s fight against Rountree is featured on the main card on pay-per-view.
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