“Hello everyone, fight day is here for us here in the Czech Republic, it’s tomorrow morning. So, I wish you a great fight, both of you guys and don’t forget, I’m coming,” Jiri Prochazka thundered with his characteristic gusto and intensity before Alex Pereira and Magomed Ankalaev‘s UFC 313 clash.

Prochazka, of course, is on a quest to regain the light heavyweight title, which he had vacated due to injury in late 2022, and has failed to win off of Alex Pereira in their two clashes. So after the Dagestani beat Pereira via a unanimous decision at the T-Mobile Arena, the Czech former champ took to X, gave Ankalaev an underhanded congratulations, floated a title clash, and spoke about a trilogy fight with ‘Poatan’. All of this combined in one tweet.

“Congrats to @AnkalaevM, beautiful pressure. Most of people don’t like it, but you won the title for now. @AlexPereiraUFC, last dance ?” Prochazka wrote. But Ankalaev, fresh off becoming the light heavyweight champion, was in no mood for ‘BJP’s snideness. In reply to the former champ’s post, the Dagestani went guns blazing and absolutely flamed Prochazka.

“I think you are a fraud and so many guys deserve it more than you you need to go win some fights,” Ankalaev said. It seems that Prochazka’s post seemed to have really gotten under the champ’s skin. Or maybe he just hates the guy so much that Ankalaev reacted to a post by ESPN, which reported ‘BJP’s tweet at Ankalaev.  “This guy is a terrible fighter,” the light heavyweight champ wrote.

To be fair to Prochazka, his calling for a clash with Alex Pereira and even hinting at a title shot shortly does make total sense. Prochazka is currently ranked #2 in the division and has a very good claim to a title shot. Instead, the Czech seemingly wants to fight Pereira first, who is the other top guy in the division, to try and earn a title shot. Not to mention Ankalaev may have no choice but to face ‘BJP’ soon.

Jiri Prochazka maybe on the verge of facing Magomed Ankalaev despite the champ’s reluctance

There is literally no one else other than Jiri Prochazka who has a claim to a title shot at the moment. After #3 ranked Jan Blachowicz and #6 Carlos Ulberg fight it out in their Fight Night clash later this month, we might have another title contender in the division. But at the moment the 205lbs class has pretty slim pickings.

#4 ranked Jamahal Hill lost to Prochazka earlier this year, while #5 Aleksandar Rakic is coming off of back-to-back losses to ‘BJP’ and the Dagestani. Ulberg is currently #6, while #7 ranked Khalil Rountree fought for the title in his last fight. The rest of the top fifteen are still some ways away from earning a title shot.

This brings us back to Ankalaev and Prochazka. When Ankalaev claims that “so many guys deserve it more than you,” who does he mean exactly? Perhaps Jan Blachowicz, who fought Ankalaev to a draw in their incredibly close UFC 282 title clash. But the Polish powerhouse hasn’t fought for over a year due to injury. Not to mention if Blachowicz loses to Ulberg, has the young knockout artist done enough to warrant a title shot? Maybe.

But, there’s maybe one other guy who deserves the title shot more than Prochazka. The former 205lbs champ Alex Pereira himself. And this is something Dana White hinted at during the post-fight presser. Well, since Pereira and Ankalaev both want a rematch, it seems Prochazka won’t get to fight either of them next. But pretty soon Ankalaev will have to face the Czech fighter, whether he wants to or not. What do you think about Magomed Ankalaev’s sassy reply to Jiri Prochazka?