MMA is no stranger to folks leveling wild accusations, but when Jiri Prochazka claimed Alex Pereira was using “black magic” to win fights, it felt like a plot straight out of a fantasy novel. And yet, here we are, revisiting Prochazka’s bizarre claims as he opens up about his regrets on Joe Rogan’s podcast. Was it magic or just the overwhelming presence of a champion that ‘Denisa’ couldn’t handle? Rogan, as always, had the perfect mix of humor and insight to break it all down.

Joe Rogan didn’t waste any time cutting to the chase. “But you believed that there was magic working against you?” he asked, clearly amused yet curious. Prochazka, now sporting his bald look, admitted, “Man, that was the biggest power for my opponent because I was focused on him, not [on] me.”

Rogan wasn’t letting him off easy. “That’s where the black magic lies,” he quipped. “But is it magic? Or is it just his presence as a champion?” He compared Pereira’s so-called “aura” to legends like Israel Adesanya, Anderson Silva, and even Mike Tyson, fighters whose sheer presence made opponents doubt themselves. “It probably seems like black magic,” Rogan added slyly, “but maybe it’s just a mental edge.”

‘The Czech Samurai’ eventually agreed. “That was something I made [up], that was something [that] I really [took] to another level, yeah,” he said, acknowledging that his focus needed to be on himself, not his opponent’s supposed mystical powers. If you are having deja vu, let’s rewind to June 2024, when Prochazka made jaws drop across the MMA world.

When did Jiri Prochazka’s accusation of Alex Pereira’s ties with Black magic take root?

In an interview on The MMA Hour, Jiri Prochazka accused the Brazilian of using shamanic rituals to gain an edge. According to the Czech republican, ‘Poatan’ couldn’t possibly have beaten him without some supernatural help. The reaction? Equal parts ridicule and disbelief. The reigning champ, of course, laughed it off, then delivered his response the only way that mattered by knocking Prochazka out cold at UFC 303. The “black magic” talk fizzled out after that….. until now.

Adding turmoil back then, Jon Jones, the king of both MMA and cryptic social media posts, jumped into the conversation. On X, Jones shared, “I felt all types of weird energies walking into those arenas. Looking certain opponents in the eyes.” He even threw in a spiritual flex, “Jesus Christ is king, and every knee shall bow.” ‘Bones’ might have been backing Prochazka up, but let’s be real, if Jon Jones starts agreeing with you, it might be time to reevaluate your stance. And yet, despite all this talk, he’s been dodging Tom Aspinall while crying for a fight with Alex Pereira. Seriously, what is Jon up to these days?

And that’s the thing about fighters like Alex Pereira, they don’t need rituals or spells. He’s got skill, confidence, and an unshakable mindset. Pereira’s ties to the Pataxó people, who pray for him before his fights, add a cultural depth to his persona, but there’s no witchcraft here.

Still, for Prochazka, Pereira’s presence seemed larger than life. Fans weren’t exactly sympathetic, with some sarcastically claiming Pereira wins fights “by way of witchcraft.” But let’s face it, if a knockout artist with Pereira’s resume beats you twice, it’s not magic. It’s talent. Jiri Prochazka’s confession to Joe Rogan paints a picture of a fighter distracted by his own mind games. He wasn’t losing to “black magic”, he was losing to himself. Hence, while Prochazka wrestles with his regrets, Pereira is busy proving himself, fight after fight, with zero care for the noise.

So, what do you think? Was Jiri Prochazka battling actual magic, or was it all in his head? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!