Dana White details Jiri Prochazka's return timeline

Dana White has provided an update on Jiri Prochazka’s shoulder injury and a possible timeline for his return.

Prochazka shocked the MMA community by announcing he'd vacated the UFC light heavyweight championship due to a severe shoulder injury. ‘Denisa’ was scheduled to defend his title against Glover Teixeira at UFC 282 on December 10.

The fight card is moving on with the planned co-main event, Jan Blachowicz vs. Magomed Ankalaev, being promoted to the main event for the vacant 205-pound title.

Details of Prochazka’s injury are slowly emerging. During an episode of Chattin Pony with Paddy Pimblett, UFC president Dana White had this to say about ‘Denisa’:

“I gotta say this too about Jiri. He will still be looked at as the champ. He never lost the belt. He vacated it. These guys [Jan Blachowicz and Magomed Ankalev] will fight for the title. There might actually be two fights that happen before he’s able to return after that shoulder surgery.”

Some MMA fans and analysts believe that Prochazka should have waited to vacate the title. With that in mind, it’s good news to hear that ‘Denisa’ will likely earn an immediate title shot upon his return.

The timeline for the former champion’s return, however, is still unclear. Although talk of a second possible title fight going down in his absence suggests a lengthy absence.

Watch Dana White discuss Jiri Prochazka below:

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Dana White claims Glover Teixeira will be the number one contender while Jiri Prochazka recovers

Glover Teixeira was arguably negatively impacted more than anyone else in the situation caused by Jiri Prochazka’s injury. Teixeira’s chance to regain the light heavyweight title was taken away, wasting his UFC 282 preparations.

Luckily, during the same podcast episode with Paddy Pimblett, Dana White solidified the Brazilian as the number one light heavyweight contender by saying:

“100%. Yeah. The fight was offered to Glover. He didn’t want to take the fight. There will probably be two fights before Jiri comes back, so it would be Glover [as the number on contender].”

The former UFC light heavyweight champion has said he accepted a fight against Jan Blachowicz, but wanted more time to prepare for Magomed Ankalaev, whom the UFC were keen to have in the title bout.