Jiri Prochazka confronts Paulo Costa over potential UFC matchup

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MIAMI, FLORIDA - APRIL 11: Jiri Prochazka of the Czech Republic reacts after a knockout loss against Carlos Ulberg of New Zealand in the UFC light heavyweight championship fight during the UFC 327 event at Kaseya Center on April 11, 2026 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Ed Mulholland/Zuffa LLC) It seems like Jiri Prochazka is ready to get back in there, and he’s trying to square up with Paulo Costa. The former light heavyweight champion has not fought since getting knocked out by Carlos Ulberg in his vacant light heavyweight title fight at UFC 327 in April. Earlier in that same evening, former UFC middleweight title challenger Paulo Costa made his official move to 205 pounds, where he stopped previously undefeated contender Azamat Murzakanov in the third round. And now it seems like Prochazka wants to mix it up with light heavyweight’s newest player. Over the weekend, Prochazka dropped a callout video on his social media, suggesting that the UFC is trying to book a fight between the two but that Costa is ducking the matchup. View this post on Instagram “Hello UFC fans. This is just a quick message for Paulo Costa. Don’t tag me, don’t mention me in your posts, because you have an offer from UFC to fight me October or November, and if you don’t want to fight me, don’t mention me, don’t speak about me. Yeah, this is it. “I’m waiting for the contract for this fight.” Costa has also not competed since UFC 327, but has been active on social media campaigning for a title fight, saying he intends to save the weight class from boring fighters like former champion Magomed Ankalaev. But Costa completely rejects that he’s been offered a fight with Prochazka, and seemingly has little interest in the bout, too. Costa fired back at Prochazka. 😂EVERYONE wants to fight me because I’m THE GUY in this boring division. But the TRUTH is : so far, nobody has mentioned your name to me. So go back to doing that weird thing of yours—whatever the hell it is you’re doing, man. https://t.co/kT7U6a0h8c — Paulo Costa (@BorrachinhaMMA) August 1, 2026 EVERYONE wants to fight me because I’m THE GUY in this boring division. But the TRUTH is: so far, nobody has mentioned your name to me. So go back to doing that weird thing of yours—whatever the hell it is you’re doing, man.

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There’s a battle brewing between Top 5 light heavyweight contenders Jiri Prochazka and Paulo Costa, according to “BJP,” who claims UFC recently offered him a late-fall showdown against the former middleweight title challenger. “This is just a quick message for Paulo Costa,” Prochazka said on Instagram. “Don’t tag me, don’t mention me in your posts […]

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Jiri Prochazka has sent Paulo Costa a warning.