Former UFC light heavyweight champion Jiri Prochaska has set his sights on a trilogy bout with reigning champion Alex Pereira after both men emerged victorious at UFC 320 in Las Vegas on October 4, 2025. The Czech fighter wants to bring the title back to his homeland and believes he has learned from his past mistakes.
Prochaska pulled off a dramatic comeback against Khalil Rountree Jr., losing the first two rounds before winning by knockout in the third round at 3:04. This victory marks his second consecutive victory and returns him to title contention following his last match against Pereira.
In the main event, Pereira defeated Magomed Ankalaev by TKO in 1 minute and 20 seconds of the first round to regain the light heavyweight title. The Brazilian dropped Ankalaev with a right hand and finished the fight with ground and pound, avenging his loss to the Russian fighter in March.
Jiri Prochaska calls third title fight against Alex Pereira following UFC 320 win
After their respective wins, Prochaska expressed her desire to face Pereira a third time in a recent interview. The Czech fighter acknowledged the difficult nature of his past two fights, both of which ended in knockout losses at UFC 295 and UFC 303.
“There are a lot of different scenarios going forward for Alex. He could be in the White House fighting me, Carlos Wolberg, or Jon Jones,” Prochaska said. “I want the third fight with Alex more than anything, but I’m ready for whoever it is. I want to get the title back in the Czech Republic and that’s what I’m going for.”
The former champion reflected on his short title reign, which lasted less than six months before relinquishing the belt due to a shoulder injury in November 2022. He underwent surgery and spent more than a year recovering from what UFC President Dana White described as one of the worst shoulder injuries he’s ever suffered.
“The last time I touched the belt was for a short time because I was injured, but now I know what I did wrong,” Prochaska said. “I want to be a consistent champion, not just a champion for a few months. I don’t care what people think about who I fight next. I really want that belt.”
Prochaska became the first Czech fighter to win a UFC Championship when he defeated Glover Teixeira at UFC 275 in June 2022. His victory brought unprecedented attention to mixed martial arts in the Czech Republic, and he was greeted by thousands of fans upon his return to his hometown of Brno.
The 32-year-old fighter showed visible emotion during Pereira’s win over Ankalaev, which Pereira later explained was a recognition that a third division fight was possible. “At that moment, I realized that I had a potential third fight, a third chance to succeed,” he told Ariel Helwani, “and I understood deep down that this was something I had to win.”
Prochaska admitted she faces a tough fight, going 0-2 against Pereira in the championship match. However, I am confident that he will be able to make the necessary adjustments. “I fought all these two games and took everything I learned from them and won’t repeat the mistakes,” he said. “I’ll be better. I’ll find a way.”
The road to Trilogy’s battle is complicated by other candidates in the division. Carlos Ulberg has emerged as the top contender after knocking out Dominick Reyes in the first round at UFC Perth on September 27th. The New Zealand fighter has extended his winning streak to nine fights and is vocal about being worthy of another title shot.
Pereira has also expressed interest in moving up to heavyweight with a shot at becoming a three-division champion, which could affect the fate of the light heavyweight title. The Brazilian champion broke his leg during his match with Ankalaev, but suggested the injury will not keep him out of competition for long.
The current UFC rankings have Prochazka tied with former champion Ankalaev for first place in the light heavyweight division, while Wolberg is ranked third. The division remains highly competitive, with several fighters vying for a chance at the title.
Prochaska’s path from street fighter and football hooligan to UFC champion is well documented. Before discovering martial arts, he participated in organized team fights with rival soccer companies, sometimes engaging in 30-on-30 brawls. His transformation through martial arts training completely changed the trajectory of his life.
The former champion recently completed a master’s degree in security and strategic studies, which has delayed his return to competition to early 2025. He declined a title fight opportunity in June to finish his university entrance exams, indicating that he is focusing on his education alongside his martial arts career.
Both fighters had impressive wins at UFC 320, and the stage seems set for a potential trilogy bout. Prochaska’s emotional investment in returning the title to the Czech Republic added a new layer to this rematch, which has the potential to be one of the most anticipated rematches in the light heavyweight division’s recent history.