Jiri Prochazka picks between Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi amid Euro and Copa America buzz: "Is more focused"

Jiri Prochazka has made a selection between prolific players Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi amidst a lot of Soccer fanfare as of late.

Several UFC 303 participants were asked about their favorite football stars taking part in Copa America 2024 and Euro 2024. Fighters like Ian Machado Garry, Michael 'Venom' Page, and Diego Lopes were among some of the individuals who were spoken to for this in footage later shared to the @espnmma account on X.

During his segment in the video edit when asked about his choice between Ronaldo or Messi, Prochazka said:

"See like [Lionel] Messi is like more normal. But Cristiano Ronaldo is more focused. So Ronaldo."

Check out Jiri Prochazka making his selection between Ronaldo and Messi below:

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Jiri Prochazka's experience in the world of Soccer

While Jiri Prochazka used to be Rizin champion where soccer kicks are legal, he does have direct experience in football. The culture of European football shaped 'BJP' during his days as an amateur player for TJ Druzstevnik Hosteradice. The native of Czech Republic also took part in football hooliganism during his teenage years in his hometown of Brno.

For Prochazka, this meant that he would engage in behaviors that could be described as destructive and violent when at sporting events amongst fellow hardcore supporters of a club.

These groups of intense supporters are referred to as Ultras and Prochazka was an Ultra for FC Zbrojovka Brno. Among fellow hardcore fans, he would engage in several street fights both angularly and in groups amongst his peers.

The 31-year-old even got into a 30 versus 30 brawl at one point before directing his focus to professional fighting eventually. This redirected path for Prochazka was informed by being inspired by Japanese texts that he has become known for being passionate about.

This constructively directed energy from football hooligan antics to honing his martial arts skills has put him on a path where he has a chance to become a two-time UFC light heavyweight champion this Saturday night.

Prochazika will clash in a rematch against Alex Pereira for the latter's 205-pound belt in a short-notice affair for the UFC 303 pay-per-view headliner on June 29.