Jiri Prochazka: Life improvements will lead to third shot at UFC champ Alex Pereira

Jiri Prochazka – UFC 303 ceremonial weigh-ins

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UFC light heavyweight champion: That’s a title Jiri Prochazka is confident in having once more.

Prochazka (30-5-1 MMA, 4-2 UFC) won the UFC belt at 205 pounds in mid-2022, vacated it due to injury months later, and since hasn’t been able to regain it. The Czech fighter has had two attempts, one in 2023 and one in 2024, and was stopped both times by current titleholder Alex Pereira.

Prochazka is not ready to give up on his championship dreams, and is confident his road back starts Saturday in his UFC 311 main card bout against fellow former champion Jamahal Hill.

“I said that many times, and I mean that very seriously,” Prochazka told MMA Junkie. “Everything that I say, I mean very seriously. I believe that I’ve made improvements to my style, to my life, in everything so I can face Alex Pereira a third time. I really believe that.

“I believe that I can be the champion, and I’m going for that – to be the champion again. No more words.”

Hill (12-2 MMA, 6-2 UFC), himself confident and outspoken, is known for his pre-fight antics and trash talk. Prochazka is not interested in engaging in those games.

He just wants to show the improvements he’s made that will take him back to the top.

“I just want to be myself – that’s all,” Prochazka said. “That’s what I want to show the world: The best version of myself, the best version of my kind, of how I see the martial arts, of my kind of style of fighting. This is what I want to share.

“This is what I want to show to the world – that I’m the best. I’ve made the improvements that I can be at the top, champion again. This is it.”