Jiri Prochazka reveals one man stopped him from confronting Magomed Ankalaev before UFC 320

Jiri Prochazka says his coach prevented him from confronting Magomed Ankalaev over unprovoked trash talk

Prochazka came under fire from Ankalaev on social media during the summer, as talk of a showdown between the pair began to arise.

The Czech star is not one to engage in hostile exchanges away from the cage, and he was left bemused by the Dagestani’s comments.

So much so that Prochazka admitted on The Ariel Helwani Show recently that he was even planning to confront Ankalaev until his coach dissuaded him from doing so.

“Before this fight (against Rountree), I was prepared to go for his manager (Abdelaziz) or Ankalaev and tell him, ‘What the f— was this s—? Why? Why you did that? I didn’t attack you with anything, so why you spoke these bulls—?’

“My coach told me, ‘Jiri, calm down. Our fight is Khalil Rountree right now. Let’s be focused for this one. Don’t be focused on anybody else.’

“I just kept that, yeah. And I’m happy I did that. I don’t like to be focused on anybody else before a fight,” Prochazka added.

Jiri Prochazka was pleased to see Alex Pereira make Magomed Ankalaev pay at UFC 320

Given his frustration with Ankalaev ahead of the event, it was no surprise to see ‘BJP’ pleased with how things played out inside Las Vegas’ T-Mobile Arena.

The broadcast showed Prochazka’s emotional reaction to Pereira’s win, and while speaking to Helwani, the former UFC light heavyweight champ and two-time opponent of the Brazilian’s explained why he was almost brought to tears.

“There was no bad wish or whatever,” Prochazka said. “I just, like every time, want to see the best fight. Let the better (man) win.

“But inside myself, maybe I wished more (that) Alex (would win) because all this bulls— with what Ankalaev said.”