It’s not odd for fighters to sometimes call in some extra support to prep for a fight. But with a strap on the line at UFC 274, the title fighters get help from some pretty big sources.
To get acclimated to time, weather, and to avoid any possible travel restrictions Jiri Prochazka has decided to have his whole camp in the United States. As a result he’s joined up with the newest and hottest little team forming in Arizona. He had told CBS Sports HQ recently:
“I want to go there and work on my wrestling. I especially want to take my wrestling to the next level”.
And there’s nobody better than Henry Cejudo to do that. Coach Eric Albarracin and “Triple C” might not be ATT, AKA, or JW, or as exclusive as Trevor Wittman; but the roster is impressive. Albarracin continues to work with Team Pitbull in Brazil but Stateside has Weili Zhang, Deiveson Figueiredo, Jon Jones, and now the 29-year old Czech.
Cejudo confirmed his newest pupil will be arriving Monday while he was doing play-by-play for EAGLE FC 44 in their United States debut.
For the steady as a rock veteran champion, Glover Teixeira; he’s called in a familiar face for Prochazka. The ATT trainer Muhammed Lawal has fought him twice. First giving Prochazka his last loss (by KO) back in 2015, then returning the favor also by KO in 2019. Teixeira hasn’t confirmed or denied if Hall Of Famer Chuck Liddell will also help out, as he has in the past with him. Or if they’d be training in Florida or Connecticut.
Title Fighters Get Help; Whose Is Better?
Teixeira calling in “King Mo” shows he isn’t just happy enough with winning the light heavyweight belt. He’d actually like to hold onto it for awhile. And if the camp IS in Coconut Creek, he’ll have an army of extra support not found in his gym.
Right now, Cejudo’s facility is 1-1 in title fights, and the question mark remains on how Jones will look at heavyweight. But there’s more than a six degrees of separation here. As a result, by the time the octagon doors lock on May 7th; both will know their opponent better than they know themselves.
That being said; it’s REALLY hard to bet against the Team that has formed in Arizona. Or Prochazka’s speed and power.
