Jiri Prochazka seems to have his priorities straight ahead of his UFC return.
The former UFC Light Heavyweight Champion returns on the pay-per-view main card of UFC 320 this weekend in a highly-anticipated clash against Khalil Rountree Jr.
Jiri Prochazka looked like a much improved fighter the last time we saw him in the Octagon.
In January, Prochazka bounced back from a TKO loss to then champ Alex Pereira with a masterful performance against Jamahal Hill at UFC 311, where he finished the former champ with strikes.
Following the win, Prochazka declined a massive title fight against Magomed Ankalaev at UFC 317 so he could take his university exams, later receiving his master’s degree in security and strategic studies.
So, what made Prochazka, the #2-ranked UFC light heavyweight contender, work so hard for his master’s degree?
- READ MORE: Jiri Prochazka’s ‘bizarre’ training method baffles fans ahead of Khalil Rountree Jr fight at UFC 320
Jiri Prochazka: ‘I don’t really care about the master’s degree’
Prochazka is looking for every edge he can get as a UFC fighter.
Prochazka is one of the most unorthodox fighters on the roster and the former champ tends to grab people’s attention with his unusual training methods.
This week, Prochazka revealed that he worked towards his master’s degree at university so that he could become a smarter fighter in the cage.
“[In] one month, I totally changed my life,” Prochazka said of getting his master’s degree at UFC 320 media day (via MMA Junkie).
“Totally…
“And for the others, doesn’t matter what you are learning. If it’s college or university or high school, just do that.
“For the fighters, it’s much more useful because we need to work with our head because the punches first, and the second one, the strategy and tactics in the fight,” Prochazka explained.
“I really don’t care about the master’s degree,” Prochazka admitted.
“It’s not about the master’s degree. It’s all about to work [in UFC], to work here, to use your memory, use all these things. This is [what it’s] all about,” said Prochazka.
Jiri Prochazka has only lost to one fighter since 2015
Khalil Rountree Jr. will have a tall task ahead of him at UFC 320.
Prochazka has proven himself as one of the absolute best light heavyweights in the world, going 15-2 since a 2015 loss to former Strikeforce Champion Muhammed Lawal (which he later avenged).
Prochazka went on a 13-fight win streak before he suffered his first UFC loss at the hands of former champion Alex Pereira at UFC 295 in 2023.
Pereira and Prochazka rematched months later after winning their fights at UFC 300, with Pereira winning the rematch with a flawless second-round TKO at UFC 303.
Prochazka has finished everybody else the UFC has put in front of him.