Procházka was counting down the days to his first light heavyweight title defense, but suffered a serious shoulder injury in training.
While the Czech fighter announced on social media that he would like to return within six months, UFC president Dana White shared slightly different information on Paddy Pimblett's podcast. The entire conversation was published by mmafighting.com .
According to White, the injury occurred while Procházka was training for a rematch with Glover Teixeira, and the main damage to the shoulder was caused by the unprofessional intervention of those present.
"What happened was his shoulder popped out and some guys in the gym were trying to put it back into place. It tore and the shoulder got completely destroyed. I'm telling you, we told him and I tell all fighters: If anything happens to you, get in the car and go to the hospital. We'll pay for everything," White said in the interview.
"The night it all happened, we had him checked out by our doctor. He literally said it's the worst shoulder injury he's seen in all his years in the UFC," White said, adding, "It's pretty ugly. Jiří is a savage and wanted to fight anyway. I tell him: No, you can't fight, you've really torn it."
Procházka received a recommendation for treatment and a long recovery period. "Our doctor says we need to start being realistic. I told Jiří that I don't want him to put so much pressure on himself that he feels like he has to come back in five or six months and destroy his shoulder again. He has to take time, get the right surgery and do everything according to the doctors' advice. We then agreed that night not to hold his fight and vacate the title."
And Teixeira, who could have dethroned Procházka, is in line for a shot at the title.
"One hundred percent, Glover is next in line. He was offered the fight, but he didn't want to take it. So it will probably be two fights before Jiří comes back," White revealed, adding that the vacant light heavyweight title will be up for grabs in Las Vegas Jan Blachowicz and Magomed Ankalaev meet and the winner takes on Teixeira.
