TLDR
- Jiri Prochazka was not surprised by Alex Pereira vacating the light heavyweight title to pursue heavyweight
- Prochazka will face Carlos Ulberg for the vacant title at UFC 327 on April 11 in Miami
- The former champion believes he will eventually get a rematch with Pereira despite the weight class change
- Prochazka’s title fight comes just two days before his first child is due to be born
- He plans to use constant pressure against Ulberg, who he says dislikes being hunted
Sources: Fighters Only | Sherdog | UFC.com
Jiri Prochazka says he was not surprised by Alex Pereira’s decision to vacate the UFC light heavyweight title and pursue the heavyweight championship. The former champion believes their paths will cross again despite Pereira’s move up in weight.
Pereira officially vacated his 205-pound title last week, clearing the way for a new champion to be crowned at UFC 327 in Miami on April 11. The Brazilian champion has defeated Prochazka twice in championship fights during 2023 and 2024.
“I’m not surprised. I think it’s like a gentleman thing,” Prochazka said during an appearance on The Ariel Helwani Show. “Gentlemen think about when you go up a weight class – and he wants to go up – that it’s normal to release the title.”
Prochazka originally won the light heavyweight title in 2022 but was forced to relinquish it later that year due to a long-term shoulder injury. Since returning to the octagon, he has unsuccessfully challenged Pereira for the belt on two occasions.
Prochazka Wanted Pereira or Ulberg Fight
The Czech fighter admitted he hoped for a trilogy fight with Pereira before the champion decided to move up. He said only two opponents made sense for his next title opportunity.
“Of the possible opponents for me, there were Ulberg or Pereira,” Prochazka explained. “I wanted just one of these two for a title fight, because I think other fighters don’t deserve it, and I made enough to take back what’s mine.”
Prochazka will now face rising contender Carlos Ulberg for the vacant light heavyweight championship at UFC 327. Ulberg holds a 13-1 record in mixed martial arts and has won nine of his 10 UFC fights.
When asked if avenging his losses to Pereira matters more than winning the title, Prochazka made his priorities clear. “I think, I believe, sooner or later, Alex Pereira will come in my way,” he said.
Title Fight Comes Days Before First Child’s Birth
The timing of the UFC 327 fight presents a personal challenge for Prochazka. The April 11 event takes place just two days before his partner is due to give birth to their first child.
Prochazka revealed that his girlfriend gave him permission to take the fight only if it was for the championship. “My girlfriend told me, ‘If you will have the title fight 11th of May, let’s do that, but it has to be a big fight,'” he said.
The fighter explained he would have preferred to compete later in June, about one month after the birth. However, the opportunity to fight for the vacant title changed his plans.
Prochazka outlined his strategy for facing Ulberg, emphasizing pressure as the key to victory. “I already chose the way I like to hunt Ulberg, because he don’t like the pressure,” he said. “He don’t like to be hunted.”
The former champion described Ulberg as a fast kickboxer who prefers to stay light on his feet and avoid wrestling. Prochazka said his game plan is simple: “Pressure, pressure. That’s it.”
At this stage of his career, Prochazka said he focuses on performance over specific opponents. “Right now, my dream scenario is to do the best fights, best performances, to be proud of myself,” he explained. “That’s all my career. Only one rule, to do the best, do the best performance, do the best preparation.”
Prochazka holds a 32-5-1 record in mixed martial arts with a 6-2 record inside the UFC octagon. Ulberg enters the title fight with momentum after nine victories in his last 10 UFC appearances.
