Czech fighter Jiri Prochazka expressed conviction that he represents the subsequent contender for the UFC gentle heavyweight championship following an look at Oktagon 79 in Brno on November 1.
Jiri Prochazka Declares His Subsequent Struggle Date
Talking backstage on the occasion with Patrick McCorry, Prochazka acknowledged, “Sure, sure I consider I’m subsequent,” and is aiming for his subsequent struggle in April or March of 2026.
The previous gentle heavyweight champion has positioned himself as the highest challenger at 205 kilos following a dramatic third-round knockout victory over Khalil Rountree Jr. at UFC 320 on October 4. That comeback end, secured at 3:04 of the ultimate spherical, earned Prochazka each Struggle of the Night time and Efficiency of the Night time bonus awards. The Czech fighter entered that bout dealing with potential elimination from title competition after trailing decisively via two rounds, however his chaotic hanging method proved decisive within the third body, forcing Rountree into exchanges he couldn’t maintain.
Prochazka’s UFC light heavyweight document now stands at 6-2 following his earlier knockout victory over former champion Jamahal Hill at UFC 311 in January. His present place on the high of the divisional rankings displays his latest trajectory, although his path to championship gold stays sophisticated by a number of elements.
Current light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira regained the belt by dispatching Magomed Ankalaev with a technical knockout in simply 80 seconds at UFC 320. The Brazilian rapidly signaled intentions to maneuver to heavyweight for a possible superfight in opposition to Jon Jones, whom he referred to as out publicly. Jones subsequently accepted the problem on social media, with each fighters expressing enthusiasm for a showdown on the UFC’s inaugural White Home occasion scheduled for June 14, 2026.
Should Pereira pursue the heavyweight opportunity, the UFC would be required to vacate the light heavyweight title under current promotional policy mandating champions relinquish belts when moving up to challenge for titles in higher weight classes. This scenario would create a vacant championship situation that numerous contenders view as a path to gold.
At Oktagon 79, Prochazka also addressed his potential options if the division’s landscape shifted. The 32-year-old fighter has previously stated that he views fighting for a championship as his singular motivation, regardless of opponent identity. “I don’t care if it’s Alex Pereira, Ulberg, or Ankalaev; I just want the opportunity to compete for the title,” Prochazka told multiple outlets before Oktagon 79. Rising New Zealand contender Carlos Ulberg has emerged as an alternative title challenger, securing a dominant first-round knockout over Dominick Reyes at UFC Perth on September 27.
Prochazka has faced Pereira twice within the UFC, losing both contests by technical knockout. The first loss occurred at UFC 295 in November 2023, with Pereira securing victory at 4:08 of the second spherical. Their rematch at UFC 303 on June 29, 2024, ended much more decisively, with Pereira ending the bout in simply 13 seconds of the second spherical. Regardless of these setbacks, Prochazka maintains confidence in his skill to carry out otherwise in a possible trilogy matchup.
“I will take all these two fights, what I’ve learned from and I will not repeat my mistakes. I will be just better, I will find a way.”
