According to Jiri Prochazka, the UFC is working on a big light heavyweight bout for the end of the year.
Former champion Prochazka (32-6-1 MMA, 6-3 UFC) took umbrage with Costa mentioning his name when exercising his options. Costa (16-4 MMA, 8-4 UFC) became a player at 205 pounds after finishing Azamat Murzakanov at UFC 327.
Prochazka competed on the same night as Costa when he was knocked out by Carlos Ulberg in their vacant light heavyweight title-fight headliner.
"This is just a quick message for Paulo Costa," Prochazka said on his Instagram (h/t TNT Sports). "Don't tag me, don't mention me in your posts because you have a offer from UFC to fight me in October or November. And if you don't want to fight me, don't mention me, don't speak about
me. This is it. I'm waiting for the contract for this fight."
Costa, who ripped Magomed Ankalaev's win over Bogdan Guskov at UFC Fight Night 282, denied ever being offered Prochazka.
"EVERYONE wants to fight me because I'm THE GUY in this boring division. But the TRUTH is: so far, nobody has mentioned your name to me. So go back to doing that weird thing of yours—whatever the hell it is you're doing, man."
😂EVERYONE wants to fight me because I’m THE GUY in this boring division. But the TRUTH is : so far, nobody has mentioned your name to me. So go back to doing that weird thing of yours—whatever the hell it is you’re doing, man. https://t.co/kT7U6a0h8c
— Paulo Costa (@BorrachinhaMMA) August 1, 2026
This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: Jiri Prochazka claims UFC offered him Paulo Costa, Costa calls shenanigans
