Jiri Passed On Title Fight For Exams?!
We always imagined being a UFC matchmaker must be like herding cats, and the past few weeks is proof of that.
Islam Makhachev vs. Ilia Topuria was arguably the biggest fight the UFC could have booked for UFC 317. But because Makhachev has different ideas about his future and legacy, he decided to vacate the lightweight title and sit out until the end of the year so he can fight Jack Della Maddalena for the welterweight title.
Advertisement
Now Topuria will fight Charles Oliveira for the 155 pound strap at International Fight Week card in Las Vegas. The card also could have featured Jiri Prochazka, potentially in a light heavyweight title fight against champion Magomed Ankalaev.
Normally, the 'Czech Samurai' is prepared to emerge from the woods and fight at the drop of a hat if it gets him a step closer to the belt. But when the UFC offered him a spot on UFC 317, he turned them down.
'We had one offer for a match, but everything is being postponed because of school,' Prochazka's coach Matin Karaivanov told Sports.cz. 'Once he finishes it, we will continue negotiations.'
Jiri is currently attending Masaryk University in Brno where he's working on a Security and Strategic Studies degree, and the finals are in June.
Advertisement
Now we're left wondering what fight Prochazka passed up to focus on his schoolwork. Recently, Ankalaev claimed on X (formerly Twitter) that the UFC offered him a fight on the June pay-per-view card, just days after his rival Alex Pereira's X account featured a 'hacked' message.
'If they want to play with me, we can do that,' the message read. 'I've never spoken poorly of the UFC but with what I've just heard I'm disheartened. I've already had thoughts of not fighting anymore, and after what was just relayed to me this may be the start.'
We have reports that Ankalaev vs. Pereira was indeed proposed by the UFC as a potential main event for UFC 317, but Pereira wasn't willing to take the pivotal rematch on short notice. While this is just speculation, could the UFC have then gone to Prochazka about fighting Ankalaev?
Whatever happened behind the scenes to make UFC 317's main event finally come together just shows you how crazy it must be trying to book all these fights. You've got champions turning down superfights and challengers turning down potential title fights for a hundred different reasons.
Advertisement
If you're wondering why it's a struggle for some fights to get booked, this is it. The UFC has over 600 people they're wrangling, and each one is pulling in their own direction.
More from mmamania.com:
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
New York Post
3 hours ago
- New York Post
Patchy Mix finally can prove his doubters wrong with debut at UFC 316
UFC newcomer Patchy Mix is ready to stamp his name into a crowded bantamweight division. 'It feels great to be here, finally,' Mix said at the UFC 316 press conference ahead of his bout against Mario Bautista. 'I'll prove it this Saturday, and I do believe that I am the best bantamweight in the world.' 'I'm looking through him,' Mix added of Bautista as the crowd went wild. Mix, 20-1, was previously the champion in rival promotion Bellator before it folded, and the UFC jumped at the opportunity to sign him.
Yahoo
4 hours ago
- Yahoo
Tom Aspinall Reveals Major Update Ahead of UFC Return
Tom Aspinall Reveals Major Update Ahead of UFC Return originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The UFC's heavyweight division has been frozen in time. With the title picture murky and Jon Jones sidelined, the promotion's biggest weight class has remained in limbo for months. Media speculation has run wild, and fans have grown restless waiting for clarity. Some are starting to think the division's been trapped in a five-round staring contest with no bell in sight. After weeks of silence from UFC brass, the interim champion has stepped in to deliver what many hope is the spark that sets the division back in motion. His presence alone has refocused attention, but it was his latest appearance that gave the clearest sign yet of a shift underway. Advertisement Appearing on ESPN MMA with Daniel Cormier and Chael Sonnen, Tom Aspinall brought the energy that's been sorely missing in recent months. With confidence and conviction, he made his position crystal clear: 'The active heavyweight champion is here to fight them all. Let's get it on.' Cormier pressed him further, asking whether he truly had something locked in. Aspinall didn't flinch: 'Well, I'll tell you something: I've got a date and a location.' His tone suggested it's not speculation—it's a done deal. And when the topic of Jon Jones surfaced, Aspinall dismissed the idea that the undisputed champ remains relevant to his future. 'Guys, why are we still talking about Jon? He's retired. He's done.' That comment alone was enough to stir debate across the MMA landscape. Aspinall's confidence is backed by action, and his readiness to move forward stands in contrast to the UFC's long-standing silence. With the interim champ seemingly booked and ready, the pressure is now on the promotion to reveal its next move. Tom AspinallGetty Images Despite the buzz, UFC President Dana White and the promotion continue to keep things close to the chest. But with Aspinall sounding off and the calendar moving, signs point toward official news breaking soon. The heavyweight logjam may finally be cracking—and when it does, it could reshape the UFC's biggest division overnight. If Aspinall's timeline holds true, fans won't be waiting much longer for a major announcement. Advertisement Related: 'I'll Be Ready' UFC Contender Offers to Back Up Topuria vs Oliveira at UFC 317 Related: Jon Jones Offers Cryptic Update on Heavyweight Title Unification This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 3, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
4 hours ago
- Yahoo
Jon Jones Doesn't Care If UFC Strips Him of Heavyweight Belt, Says Head UFC Commentator Jon Anik
Jon Jones Doesn't Care If UFC Strips Him of Heavyweight Belt, Says Head UFC Commentator Jon Anik originally appeared on Athlon Sports. Jon Jones, who hasn't defended the belt since defeating Stipe Miocic in November 2024, has repeatedly frustrated UFC fans as well as interim champion Tom Aspinall. It has come to the point that a petition to strip Jones of the title has now surpassed 200,000 signatures. Jones has dismissed the petition with humor, even jokingly encouraging fans to sign it. While he may have been joking, the UFC's premiere commentator suggests that Jones might actually want to be stripped of the title. Advertisement At the UFC 316 pre-fight press conference on June 5, 2025, veteran commentator Jon Anik gave his opinion about the ongoing saga between heavyweight champion Jon Jones and interim titleholder Tom Aspinall. Jon JonesGetty Images Anik, standing in for UFC CEO Dana White, expressed his belief that Jones wouldn't be bothered if the UFC stripped him of the heavyweight belt amid growing fan frustration over the delayed unification bout. He stated, "I don't know that Jon Jones really gives a rip if they strip him of the heavyweight championship." The comment comes at an opportune time when UFC fans are dissatisfied with Jones' status as the undisputed heavyweight champion despite a lack of activity, fueled by Aspinall's insistence that the division move forward. Advertisement Anik clarified, 'He's still going to fight Tom, hopefully, and it's still going to be a bag.' Aspinall, meanwhile, has grown increasingly vocal about his impatience, declaring Jones "retired" and urging the UFC to book him against another contender. The interim champion's frustration is understandable—he's been sidelined since his July 2024 knockout of Curtis Blaydes, while Jones has teased a return without committing to a date. The UFC's reluctance to strip Jones outright may stem from the promotional upside of a clash between two champions. 'I think a fight between Jon Jones and Tom Aspinall is bigger if they are both champions,' Anik added. 'I'm hopeful they're going to fight in December in Las Vegas. I have no inside information.' Advertisement With no possible date in sight, it appears the UFC brass has left the heavyweight division in limbo. Despite this, Jones's star power and GOAT status afford him leverage, even as critics argue that the credibility of his record-breaking championship reign is eroding. Related: UFC Fans Blast Jon Jones After Reality Show With Nate Diaz Announced 'Just Strip Him Already' Related: Fans Sound Off Jon Jones 'Undisputed' Heavyweight Reign As He Approaches UFC Record This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 6, 2025, where it first appeared.
