Prochazka hits back at Ankalaev over UFC 313 comments

Jiri Prochazka has called Magomed Ankalaev a fraud after an unexpected online beef erupted between the two fighters in the aftermath of UFC 313.

The Czech initially congratulated Ankalaev for his win over Pereira on Sunday (AEDT), with the Russian defying UFC betting odds to claim the light heavyweight belt for the first time.

However, Ankalaev responded with a series of insults, calling Prochazka a fraud and saying that others deserve a fight against Pereira ahead of him.

This caused the No.2 contender to go on a tirade of his own towards the newly crowned champion.

“One thing that I can say to Ankalaev: he can think whatever he wants, but I know that the only person who is a fraud is him,” Prochazka said this week.

“His mouth, what he’s saying is something that, I don’t like it.

“I don’t like it. I like all the people except him. But he’s too much, too much.

“His last tweet on me, he doesn’t know me. He doesn’t know me. I don’t know him personally.”

Recommended!

Fast Payouts

50% matched deposit up to USD $5,000

Visit BetOnline

Prochazka believes Ankalaev’s victory has gone to his head, saying the 32-year-old was affable towards him when they met in person recently.

“Right now, he’s playing this game and he is hyped and I understand,” he said.

“Because when I met him at the UFC Performance Institute in Las Vegas, he was there, he was very nice, he was friendly [saying] ‘hello, nice to meet you, all good’ and right now he’s a superstar and a big gangster.

“He won the title against the worst performance from Alex Pereira.

“Only fraudulent person here is Magomed Ankalaev.”

While Prochazka expressed his interest in fighting Pereira for a third time following the Brazilian’s loss to Ankalaev, he has since said that a rematch between the top two light heavyweights is what is best for the division.

Leading UFC bookmakers are already offering early Pereira v Anakalaev 2 odds, with markets shifting significantly from their first fight.

Ahead of UFC 313, Pereira was a slender favourite at -125 with BetOnline.

Now, he is a +150 underdog, with Ankalaev favoured at -166.67 to win if the pair face each other in a rematch.

Sports news