A few weeks after his knockout loss to Carlos Ulberg at UFC 327 on April 11, Jiri Prochazka says he expects to be ready to return in September or October, with Paulo Costa and Magomed Ankalaev emerging as the matchups that interest him most. Prochazka shared that update in an interview with Ariel Helwani as he steps back to spend time with his family before beginning another push toward contention.
That timeline matters in a loaded light heavyweight picture, where every meaningful fight now has ripple effects near the top of the division. A matchup with Ankalaev would immediately carry title implications, while a fight against Costa would be a more unconventional but highly watchable booking built around name value and chaos. Either way, Prochazka is still being discussed like a major player, which says a lot about how American MMA fans view him: even in defeat, he remains one of the UFC’s most compelling action fighters.
Prochazka said he wants at least two months focused on his family after going straight to the hospital to be with his wife following the Ulberg fight. Once that period passes, he believes a fall return is realistic. He also made clear that he is not fixated on one opponent, saying he wants the best available competition rather than a carefully chosen matchup.
There is obvious intrigue in both options. Ankalaev would represent the highest-level sporting test and a direct statement about whether Prochazka can still push toward another title run. Costa, if the UFC were to make that fight, would bring a very different appeal — a volatile, fan-friendly pairing that would get immediate attention in the U.S. market because of the personalities and finishing potential involved.
Prochazka’s recent form adds real stakes here. He was stopped in the first round by Ulberg at UFC 327, and at this stage, his next appearance feels less like a routine comeback and more like a crossroads moment. By early fall, the bigger picture at 205 pounds may look very different, and Prochazka’s next opponent should tell us whether the UFC still sees him as a title threat or as a high-level gatekeeper to the elite.