The highly anticipated clash between Jamahal Hill and Jiri Prochazka at UFC 311 goes beyond just an Octagon showdown—it’s a battle for the de-facto number #1 contendership spot and reclaiming lost glory. Hill, returning after a nine-month hiatus, faces immense pressure following his knockout loss to Alex Pereira at UFC 300. The defeat marked a steep fall from his championship reign and forced him to start anew in his quest for the belt.

Interestingly, former 185lbs kingpin Robert Whittaker has shown support for Hill, despite the brutal outcome of his last bout. On The MMArcade Podcast, Whittaker analyzed Hill’s defeat, attributing Pereira’s victory to his unparalleled striking prowess. “Jamahal hitting as hard as he does, he like there is no doubt that Jamahal Hill hits hard you can see the way he’s not only the fact that he’s got his TKO and his knockouts in his; in his prior fights to Alex. But then if you watch the fight and you see the way he knocked people out a lot; some of those shots weren’t even clean and he’s still stoning people so yeah.”

The Aussie ace further highlighted Prochazka’s lack of defense and how he moves forward to just get hit in the head. This has proved to be catastrophic for the Czech fighter on two separate occasions against Pereira and can be an advantage for Hill. “You know before him getting TKOed by Alex Pereira, I would have it. Jiri is one of those guys that regardless of how he’s doing in the fight, would come back and win. Somehow you know he’s kind of always there the threat level’s always there but since Alex kind of highlighted his Achilles heel, the fact that he does get hit so often, and the fact that if you hit him hard enough he will just go away.”

Whittaker, though supportive of Hill’s potential, admitted uncertainty regarding what form Hill would return in after his loss to Pereira. And when it comes to Jiri, there’s a level of unpredictability that adds a wild edge to the fight. Fans may not fully comprehend the extreme measures Prochazka takes before stepping into the cage, but those who have seen his journey know he’s a man who pushes boundaries in every aspect of his preparation.

Jiri Prochazka’s ‘out of world’ tactics before stepping into the Octagon

Miyamoto Musashi’s Book of Five Rings has greatly influenced ‘The Czech Samurai’ who channels the essence of the Japanese Samurai code of Bushido in his approach to life and fighting. A deeply spiritual individual, Prochazka takes a unique and almost mystical approach to his training, retreating to the remote forests of his native Czech Republic to connect with his inner self. His intense training routines include meditating under waterfalls and engaging in sensory deprivation, techniques that allow him to face his deepest fears and demons.

In an interview on The MMA Hour some years back, Prochazka explained his rigorous process, stating, “That’s all in darkness for three days, and there you can work with your demons and train what you want… It’s much more strong when you’re without food. All the processes in your body are much stronger. Your mind’s working a lot, and you must die here first.”

For UFC 311, Prochazka has gone even further, taking his conditioning to extreme levels. He practiced punching makiwara, a traditional conditioning tool with padded wood, as part of his preparation. But he doesn’t stop there. Prochazka punches trees—yes, trees—up to 500 times a day! When you consider the grueling nature of these rituals, sensory deprivation must seem like a breeze to him.

With Prochazka training like a warrior in the most hardcore fashion, reminiscent of a character from Jujutsu Kaisen like Itadori Yuji, the question arises: Can Jamahal Hill withstand the relentless force and mental discipline that Prochazka brings to the table? Share your thoughts in the comments below!