Jiri Prochazka just hit the brakes on the UFC 332 rumor machine, and he did it in classic Jiri fashion. After recent chatter tied him to another high-stakes light heavyweight booking, the former UFC champion said his next fight is still not signed, which matters because the Paulo Costa idea has already been floating around and UFC 332 keeps filling out around the edges.
Prochazka posted fresh training footage on Instagram and pushed back on the idea that he has already agreed to headline the Oct. 3 card in Salt Lake City. That is a pretty important correction from a guy who does not usually waste words. The light heavyweight division is messy enough without the internet trying to slap a bout agreement on his desk.
Here is the source post from Prochazka:
The same statement was also preserved in this related post.
🚨 Jiri Prochazka addresses the rumors surrounding his next fight:
“Just don’t believe to every bullsh*t on internet. Fight is not confirmed yet, still working on that.
One thing is sure. I want my preparation to be truly thorough — to break everything down — and to start from the roots that have long been a part of me.” (via @jiri_bjp) pic.twitter.com/eSf1Bnzbqa
— Championship Rounds (@ChampRDS) August 23, 2026
Prochazka directly rejected the claim that a bout had already been finalized.
“Don’t believe to every bulls–t on internet. Fight is not confirmed yet, still working on that.”
Prochazka Keeps The Door Open Without Signing Anything
The key part is that Prochazka did not say he is out. He said nothing is confirmed. That leaves the matchmaking door open while also making it clear that the UFC 332 rumor train got ahead of the paperwork.
He also gave fans a clear account of how he wants to approach the next camp.
“One thing is sure. I want my preparation to be truly thorough — to break everything down, and to start from the roots that have long been a part of me. There are still levels that can be reached, and right now I am very grateful to see them clearly.”
That tracks with where Prochazka is in his career. He is not some prospect begging for a slot. He is a former UFC light heavyweight champion, a constant chaos agent, and still one of the most dangerous five-round problems in the division. When he says he wants to rebuild from the roots, that is not motivational poster stuff. That is a fighter who knows another rushed step could get expensive.
The rumored Costa piece is what makes this spicy. Costa has been linked to a move at 205 pounds, and Kamaru Usman even floated him as a light heavyweight option after the middleweight lane got weird. A Prochazka-Costa fight would be a beautiful bit of nonsense on paper, but Prochazka is making sure nobody calls it official before it actually is.
The wider light heavyweight picture is not exactly tidy either. Carlos Ulberg is part of that championship conversation after beating Prochazka earlier this year, while Prochazka remains one of the few names in the division who can turn a vague rumor into a must-watch fight overnight. That is why this update got attention so fast. There are levels to this game, and apparently the first level is checking whether the contract exists.
Until Prochazka or the UFC gives the hard confirmation, this sits in the almost-but-not-yet pile. Still, with UFC 332 approaching and the promotion already mapping out its late-2026 calendar, the next move at light heavyweight feels like it could come quick.
