Jiri Prochazka has announced he plans to return to the octagon in the fall against either Magomed Ankalaev or Paulo Costa. The Czech fighter said it doesn't matter to him which opponent he faces, emphasizing that to be the best, you must be able to beat anyone. Prochazka clarified he's not calling them out because they criticized his last performance, but because he believes they are the most likely options for his comeback. He stated his intention to prove himself against top competition in the light heavyweight division.
Jiri Prochazka has set his sights on a fall return to the octagon, naming light heavyweight contender Magomed Ankalaev and middleweights title chaser Paulo Costa as his two preferred opponents for his comeback fight.
The Czech standout enters this stretch ranked second in the light heavyweight division and carries a 32-6-1 record. At 33 years old and fighting out of Jetsaam Gym Brno, Prochazka stands six-foot-three with an 80-inch reach and remains one of the most aggressive strikers in the 205-pound weight class, averaging 5.69 significant strikes landed per minute at 55 percent accuracy. He was clear that the callout is not driven by personal grievance over criticism of his last performance, but by a straightforward belief that Ankalaev and Costa represent the most realistic options available for his return.
Ankalaev, ranked first in the light heavyweight division and fifth pound-for-pound, holds a 21-2-1 record and is two years removed from his title charge. The Russian, who fights out of Gorets Fight Club, also stands six-foot-three and brings a wrestling-heavy game, averaging 0.79 takedowns per 15 minutes, which would contrast sharply with Prochazka's striking-first approach.
Costa, the Brazilian veteran known as The Eraser, competes at middleweight and sits ranked thirteenth there with a 16-4-0 record. At 35, he is one of the harder hitters in MMA, landing 6.26 significant strikes per minute at 58 percent accuracy. A move up in weight to meet Prochazka would represent a significant jump for Costa.
Why it matters
- Prochazka versus Ankalaev would be a top-two light heavyweight matchup with title implications
- A Prochazka-Costa pairing would be a cross-divisional striking showcase between two high-volume fighters
- Prochazka's stated willingness to face either opponent signals urgency to re-establish himself among the elite at 205 pounds
