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Jiri Prochazka: People will stop taking 'big mouth guy' Magomed Ankalaev seriously

Jiri Prochazka: People will stop taking 'big mouth guy' Magomed Ankalaev seriously

USA Today19-06-2025
Jiri Prochazka: People will stop taking 'big mouth guy' Magomed Ankalaev seriously
Jiri Prochazka thinks UFC light heavyweight champion Magomed Ankalaev is talking too much.
Since dethroning Alex Pereira to become champion at UFC 313, Ankalaev (21-1-1 MMA, 12-1-1 UFC) has been active on social media, going after both "Poatan" and Jiri Prochazka for turning down a title fight against him at UFC 317.
Prochazka (31-5-1 MMA, 5-2 UFC) has opted to prioritize his studies, which Ankalaev mocked him for.
"Alex Pereira don't want the Ank anymore. Let's leave him alone because I'm not a bully: Fake ninja he said he have to go back to school because he cannot read @danawhite @Mickmaynard2 give me some fish."
The former UFC light heavyweight champion has no regrets putting university over the title fight.
"I'm studying university for right now – three years. Everything is settled – this magister, everything is settled. Everything is good," Prochazka said in an interview with Full Violence. "I'm after the (Ankalaev) fight, it's a little bit of time. So right now, I'm focused for this target. My life is just about targets. What is most important right now, the priorit?. Right now, that's school."
Prochazka isn't amused with Ankalaev's verbal jabs, and thinks he's shooting himself in the foot with his approach.
"He's a big mouth guy," Prochazka said of Ankalaev. "I really don't care (if it's him or his manager), because he did enough to stop people from taking him seriously. This is not how the champ has to speak. He will put himself down just by this nonsense talking."
Still unsure if Pereira (12-3 MMA, 9-2 UFC) will get his title-fight rematch with Ankalaev, Prochazka is just looking to compete within the next couple of months – but his eyes remain on the prize.
"August, October, something like that," Prochazka said of his return. "My manager is trying to keep negotiating this fight with Ankalaev. Let's see if Pereira will fight with him. I will fight him or with somebody else, but I'm focused on Ankalaev after that."
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