Jiri Prochazka praises Alexander Gustafsson ahead of UFC 282: “Still a very dangerous man”

Alexander “The Mauler” Gustafsson. Photo: USA Today Sports

Champion Jiri Prochazka is ready for his first title defence at UFC 282. The card is stacked with top-drawer light heavyweight fighters, including former champion Jan Blachowicz and legendary Swede Alexander Gustafsson.

In a recent interview with The AllStar, he praised fellow Gustafsson, and seemed excited that they both fight at the Las Vegas event.

“I trained with Alex many times in Sweden and he’s a great man, big man, father of a family, amazing sparring partner. He’s not so crazy, he’s really calm, and he knows how to work with his power in the camps. So, I have so much respect for him and I’m a fan of him,” Prochazka said.

“I just wish him the best and after that I saw that match up with Ovince Saint Preux and I said to myself, ‘Man, he’s going to the cage one more time, again and again, after this loss with Krylov,’” Prochazka said. “For me, as a person, it’s such a big inspiration. Because that shows he still believes. He knows he has it, so I think he’s still a very dangerous man. I have to like him.”

Jiri Prochazka: “He was my idol once”

This is not the first time Prochazka praises “The Mauler”. A few months ago, the Czech UFC champion talked about Gustafsson in an interview with Petter Öhrling from SVT Sport.

“He was my idol once, he had great boxing, great movement on the legs. The fight with Glover, he made that much better than me. Much better than me,” Prochazka said with a laugh. “I want to speak about his greatness, because he is a very great guy, he is a very nice guy, a humble guy. And as a fighter, man, very good fighter.”

Read more: Jiri Prochazka will make his first title defence against Glover Teixeira at UFC 282

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