Jiri Prochazka injury update: When will the former UFC champion return to the octagon?

Jiri Prochazka recently revealed that he expects to return to the UFC octagon around September next year.

Prochazka was slated to defend his light heavyweight crown against Glover Teixeira in a rematch at the upcoming UFC 282 pay-per-view. However, the Czech phenom sustained an injury just over a week before the fight and has since vacated the title.

In an interview with Robert Rampa of iDNES Sport, Prochazka opened up about the timeline for his return:

"They scared me a little bit... That it would take nine months to a year. After consulting with other experts and surgeons, I don't see it being more than half a year until the next fight. A maximum of seven months."

Jiri Prochazka went on to reveal that he will be undergoing shoulder surgery in the Czech Republic around Christmas and will travel back to Las Vegas to continue his recovery process at the UFC Performance Institute. The former RIZIN star added that the UFC has assured him that he will fight for the 205-pound strap upon his return:

"Yes, we agreed on that. We'll see how it goes if they don't want to zigzag because you never know what the situation will be... Look, I don't have such a problem letting go of belts... If you promise me a title match, I have no problem."

Glover Teixeira was offered a fight against Magomed Ankalaev for the belt after news of Jiri Prochazka's injury broke, but the Brazilian was not keen on fighting the surging Dagestani on such short notice and was ultimately removed from the card.

Ankalaev will now fight Jan Blachowicz for the vacant title in the main event of UFC 282 this weekend.

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Jiri Prochazka claims Glover Teixeira was treated "unfairly"

Glover Teixeira was just under 30 seconds away from beating Jiri Prochazka earlier this year via decision before succumbing to a Hail Mary submission in the final round. With Teixeira's rematch with Prochazka now off the table, and with Magomed Ankalaev and Jan Blachowicz set to fight for the vacant belt, the 43-year-old Brazilian finds himself in an awkward position.

Prochazka believes Teixeira has been treated "unfairly" and even admitted that he was annoyed by the UFC's treatment of the MMA veteran. In the same interview, he said:

"They treated Glover Teixeira a little unfairly. I was surprised he didn't have a match when he was preparing. That they didn't match him with an opponent and didn't give him Blachowicz, as he wanted and whom he had already defeated. It p*sses me off that they didn't make a move for him."