Former UFC light heavyweight champion Jiri Prochazka may be one of the most intense athletes on the UFC roster, but he proved he still has a heart of gold.
Czech star Prochazka is all set to compete at UFC 311 in Inglewood, California on Saturday night, where he’ll take on fellow former world champion Jamahal Hill on the pay-per-view portion of the fight card.
It’s a big fight for Prochazka, but ahead of fight night, he arrived at the pre-fight press conference looking noticeably different.
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Prochazka usually sports a plaited top-knot hairstyle on his mostly-shaved head, similar to the famous Tong Po character in the iconic martial arts movie “Kickboxer”.
But he arrived on stage at Intuit Dome with a completely shaved head, leading to a question about why he’d chosen to change up his style.
“The hair was inspired by Ashly, a girl (I met),” he explained.
“She is fighting with cancer.”
Ashly McGarity was diagnosed with cervical cancer last September and shaved her head to emulate Prochazka’s famous style before undergoing chemotherapy and losing her hair.
Speaking to reporters during media day earlier this week, Prochazka explained, “We offered her to see the fights live.”
And at the press conference, he confirmed that McGarity is making the trip, with Prochazka deciding to shave his head in support of his fan, and the other members of the oncology ward where she’s receiving treatment.
“This is me showing solidarity, because it’s about sending good energy,” he explained.
“Yesterday, I reached one million followers on Instagram. So, I will give one million (Czech crowns) from my foundation to the patients.”
UFC CEO and president Dana White made sure the crowd at the press conference fully understood Prochazka’s story and, after clarifying how much Prochazka was donating, he responded, “You’re gonna donate $50,000? I’ll match the $50,000. $100,000.”
Prochazka is looking to win his way back towards the top of the UFC’s light heavyweight division in a bid to win back the championship he never lost inside the cage.
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Prochazka dethroned champion Glover Teixeira via rear-naked choke submission with just 28 seconds left in their title fight at UFC 275 in June 2022, but a shoulder injury forced him out of action for 17 months as he relinquished the title to allow the division to move on.
He challenged for the belt again on his return, but was stopped by Brazil’s Alex Pereira at UFC 295. A second shot at Pereira at UFC 303 last June ended in another TKO defeat as he fell agonizingly short of the gold once again.
Now he faces Hill on Saturday night as he attempts to put himself back in the frame for another shot at his old title.
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