At UFC 320, the emotions ran deeper than the bruises. While Alex Pereira‘s first-round TKO of Magomed Ankalaev stole the show, Jiri Prochazka, who is typically stoic and composed, became visibly emotional as he saw ‘Poatan’ reclaim the light heavyweight title. The sight of a man sobbing for his rival, who had twice defeated him, was enough to send social media into a frenzy, leaving everyone wondering what truly caused those tears.

Earlier that evening, Prochazka pulled one of his own spectacular comebacks, defeating Khalil Rountree Jr. in the third round despite taking significant damage. The crowd in Las Vegas applauded his resilience, but as the night came to a close and Pereira’s hand was raised, the tone shifted.

Jiri Prochazka on shedding tears, reacting to Alex Pereira’s UFC 320 win

Jiri Prochazka’s expression softened as he watched from cageside, revealing a mix of adoration, relief, and serious reflection. The scene was remarkable because it contrasted with his normal samurai-like calmness, showing a rare glimpse of vulnerability that fans had never seen before. Speaking to Ariel Helwani, ‘Denisa’ has finally revealed the truth behind that emotional reaction.

“In that moment, I realized that there is a potential third fight. Third chance for me to be successful,” he explained. “I know I take a lot of risks in my fights, but I know I will find a way.” He explained that the tears were not of grief or regret, but of purpose. Alex Pereira‘s win did not bother him; instead, it reignited him.

The champion’s success reminded Jiri Prochazka that his own story wasn’t over yet; that the path back to gold still ran through the man who had twice conquered him. Even at the post-fight press conference, ‘The Czech Samurai’ reiterated that his feelings came from respect rather than animosity. “You know, win, lose, win, lose, whoever, but Alex and his team, Glover Teixeira there, and all of these guys, we have a good relationship with them,” he said.

That statement conveyed the quiet honor at the heart of his personality—a fighter who sees his opponents as partners in the pursuit of excellence rather than foes. For Jiri Prochazka, Alex Pereira’s success was a victory for the martial artist’s code he lives by. Despite the admiration, a familiar hunger remains.

‘Denisa’ knows what he wants: a third battle with ‘Poatan’ to complete the trilogy and finally win the title. Having learned from his previous two losses, he said, “I would take all these two fights and what I learned from them, and I will not repeat my mistakes. I will be just better.”

However, as enticing as the story seems, the UFC landscape may not make the path easy. With rising challengers like Carlos Ulberg making compelling bids for a title opportunity, a trilogy between Prochazka and Pereira may not be immediate. In fact, other legends of the sport are already suggesting a different fight: a trilogy between Alex Pereira and Magomed Ankalaev.

Conor McGregor snubs ‘Denisa’ for Magomed Ankalaev trilogy

Following Jiri Prochazka’s views on respect and redemption, the UFC landscape suggests a different direction for the next light heavyweight title bout. Conor McGregor, who is aware of the stakes of trilogies, swiftly highlighted Alex Pereira’s rival, Magomed Ankalaev, suggesting that their rivalry may earn the next chapter rather than Jiri Prochazka’s expected trilogy.

McGregor’s message was clear: “Congrats Pereira on recovering the rematch. Skill. Will. Determination. Congrats Ankalaev on having the courage to rematch. Guts. Balls. Honour. 1-1 now @ufc.” Drawing on his own one-on-one series with Dustin Poirier, ‘The Notorious’ hinted that Pereira-Ankalaev may be the UFC’s next major trilogy, momentarily sidelining Jiri Prochazka, especially after it has been confirmed that the Russian was medically unfit to even fight at UFC 320.

Nonetheless, ‘Denisa’ remains focused. Even if ‘Poatan’ takes another fight first, his ambition remains unchanged. The lessons from his previous setbacks feed his drive, and his desire for a final fight with the Brazilian stays unshaken, preparing him for when the moment arises.