Jiri Prochazka in Talks to Be Alternate for Light Heavyweight Title Fight at UFC 266

The light heavyweight championship bout between Jan Blachowicz and Glover Teixeira at UFC 266 could have an interesting replacement option should either one of the main combatants have to withdraw from the card.

In an interview on the "Fair Play Thinker" podcast, 205-pound contender Jiri Prochazka revealed that he has been in talks to be an alternate for the Sept. 4 title fight.

"I don't know if it’s official or [if] I can speak about it publicly,” Prochazka said. “All I can say is that we are under negotiations so I can be the reserve fighter in the belt dispute between Jan Blachowicz and Glover Teixeira. But we didn't sign anything yet.”

A former Rizin 205-pound king, Prochazka has kicked off his UFC tenure with consecutive knockouts of former title challengers Volkan Oezdemir and Dominick Reyes. The possibility of a title opportunity so soon will make the grind of training camp a little less difficult to endure.

"When I start to get ready for a fight, I cut all fun — like contact with friends, and even sex,” Prochazka said. “Everything I do is train, read and learn English. I go to bed by 8 p.m. and sleep by 9:30 p.m.  That different routine also accelerates my metabolism and I start to lose weight and get stronger and faster. My preparation for a fight is brutal.”