Former UFC light heavyweight champion Jiri Prochazka has announced plans to return to the octagon in the fall, targeting either Magomed Ankalaev or Paulo Costa as his opponent. Prochazka stated that the specific opponent does not matter to him, emphasizing his goal to be the best and defeat anyone in his path. He noted that both fighters recently criticized his last performance, but he views them as the most likely and logical next opponents regardless. The Czech fighter is seeking a high-profile comeback fight after his recent setback.
Former UFC light heavyweight champion Jiri Prochazka has publicly declared his intention to return to competition this fall, naming Magomed Ankalaev or Paulo Costa as his preferred opponents for the comeback.
Prochazka, 33, holds a professional record of 32-6-1 and is currently ranked second in the light heavyweight division. The Czech fighter out of Jetsaam Gym Brno stands six-foot-three with a massive 80-inch reach and brings one of the most aggressive output rates in the weight class, landing 5.69 significant strikes per minute at 55 percent accuracy. He made clear that the identity of his opponent is secondary to his broader goal of reclaiming his place at the top of the division, adding that both men recently took shots at his last performance — which he appears to treat as added motivation rather than a deterrent.
Ankalaev sits directly above Prochazka at number one in the light heavyweight rankings and is also ranked fifth pound-for-pound at 21-2-1. The 34-year-old Russian from Gorets Fight Club is a measured, technically sound fighter who lands 3.65 significant strikes per minute while mixing in 0.79 takedowns per 15 minutes, making him a well-rounded threat on both feet and on the mat.
Costa enters the conversation from a different division entirely. The Brazilian known as The Eraser competes at middleweight, where he is ranked 13th with a 16-4-0 record. At 35 years old, Costa is an aggressive pressure striker who lands 6.26 significant strikes per minute at 58 percent accuracy — numbers that would make any potential crossover matchup with Prochazka a striking showcase.
Why it matters
- Ankalaev is the top-ranked light heavyweight contender, so a Prochazka win would carry immediate title implications
- A Costa matchup would be a rare crossover bout, pitting two of the sport's most prolific volume strikers against each other
- Prochazka's public callout of two fighters who criticized him raises the stakes heading into fall booking discussions
