De Ridder Blasts Prochazka's Ninja Act As Fake

Reinier de Ridder has no time for Jiri Prochazka's samurai act.

The former ONE Championship double champ told Full Mount MMA that the ex-UFC heavyweight/" class="internal-link text-bone underline decoration-ash/30 hover:decoration-gold underline-offset-2">light heavyweight titleholder's ninja persona feels manufactured. De Ridder was asked which 205-pounder he rates highest when he shot down Prochazka immediately. "Nah, it's definitely not Jiri," he said, per BJ Penn. "Jiri rubs me the wrong way with the ninja [routine]. It's too much, dude. It feels so fake. Nah, that's not my guy."

De Ridder Picks Ankalaev Over Prochazka At heavyweight/" class="internal-link text-bone underline decoration-ash/30 hover:decoration-gold underline-offset-2">Light Heavyweight

De Ridder named Magomed Ankalaev as the most skilled fighter in the weight class and predicted the Dagestani grappler would beat current champ Carlos Ulberg in a rematch. Prochazka, who trains outdoors in extreme conditions and lives by the Bushido code, once swam 30 meters under a frozen lake. The Czech striker's unorthodox methods have drawn both praise and skepticism throughout his UFC run.

The two could meet in the cage soon. De Ridder moves back up to light heavyweight to face Roman Dolidze in the UFC Sacramento main event on Aug. 22. Both men are looking to snap two-fight skids.

Prochazka last fought in April, when he lost his rematch with Ulberg by first-round knockout. Many felt he failed to capitalize after Ulberg suffered an early ACL injury in that bout.

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• BJPenn — Jiri Prochazka’s ‘fake’ ninja routine rubs Reiner de Ridder the wrong way: “It’s too much, dude”