Early on Friday it was confirmed that UFC light heavyweight champion Jamahal Hill had vacated his title after suffering a torn achilles ligament injury which is expected to sideline him for around 12 months.
The stroke of bad luck experienced by the 32-year-old American, who won the then-vacant belt with a comprehensive decision win against Glover Teixeira earlier this year, marks the second 205-pound champion in succession to have been forced to step away from the world title due to injury.
You’ll recall that in November the man Hill succeeded as champion, Czech standout Jiri Prochazka, announced in a social media video that he was vacating his championship after experiencing what Dana White would later call the ‘worst’ shoulder injury he has ever seen in mixed martial arts.
And as such, Prochazka took to Twitter on Friday afternoon to wish Hill well and tell him that he knows exactly how it feels to walk away from a world title.
@JamahalH Man, I’m so sorry, I was really looking forward to our Fight. I appreciate your release of the title. Only a person who has experienced this situation can appreciate such a thing.
Who is next?
winner Blachowicz X Pereira or ?#IAMTHECHAMPION ///\
— Jiri BJP Prochazka (@jiri_bjp) July 14, 2023
“Man, I’m so sorry, I was really looking forward to our Fight,” Prochazka wrote .”I appreciate your release of the title. Only a person who has experienced this situation can appreciate such a thing.”
He then asked who might be next, and suggested that the upcoming UFC 291 clash between Alex Pereira and Jan Blachowicz — both former UFC champions in their own right — could be upgraded to a world title fight.
Thanks Champ!!! We will have our dance for sure!!! Hold things down in the mean time and can’t wait to see you across the octagon from me!!! https://t.co/ar2Q36h26K
— Jamahal Hill (@JamahalH) July 14, 2023
Less than an hour after Prochazka’s message, Hill responded: “Thanks Champ!!! We will have our dance for sure!!! Hold things down in the mean time and can’t wait to see you across the octagon from me!!!”
There is no specific timeline to Prochazka’s recovery from injury but, much like Hill, he has been promised a championship bout on his return — meaning that, in effect, the next two challengers to the 205-pound title might well be set in stone.
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