Jiri Prochazka hits back at Carlos Ulberg and names preferred opponent for return bout

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Jiri Prochazka is looking to put his recent issues behind him and has two potential opponents in mind as he looks to get back on track.

Earlier this month, he was knocked out by Carlos Ulberg in the first round of their vacant light heavyweight title bout, suffering a brutal loss in the UFC 327 main event.

Afterward, Prochazka drew criticism for saying he had shown mercy to Ulberg after ‘Black Jag’ tore his ACL mid-round and continued fighting on one leg.

Ulberg didn’t take kindly to those remarks, firing back by calling Prochazka a ‘pretender’ despite his Samurai spirit reputation.

Prochazka looks to return in October with sights set on Costa or Ankalaev

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Reflecting on the time since that defeat, Prochazka didn’t hold back when speaking about Ulberg’s remarks, even going so far as to call him a ‘stripper’ during his appearance on the Ariel Helwani Show.

“You know, I don’t want to hear this bulls— from a stripper,” Prochazka said during the Ariel Helwani Show this Monday afternoon.

“I believe that in the cage, the fighters, we are one of the most rare people in the world and does anyone think that I prepared my words after the fight to tell the crowd ‘I was so merciful’. First of all, I didn’t say that because Joe Rogan said to me ‘mercy’.

“It was not about mercy but I just saw him and he was hurt and then I just didn’t accept the scenario of the fight. It could be an easy fight because all you need is hard work.

Despite being linked with an interim 205lb title fight by Joe Rogan, Costa isn’t Prochazka’s only target. The Czech fighter is also open to facing former champion Magomed Ankalaev around October.