Jiri Prochazka cools interim-title talk, says he is training but no fight booked

Jiri Prochazka has moved to tamp down speculation that he will return to action in the UFC as part of an interim light heavyweight title fight with Paulo Costa. In comments reported by Yahoo Sports, Prochazka said he is aware of ongoing talk linking him to that kind of matchup, but he is not treating it as a done deal.

The interim-fight rumor has been fueled by the current state of the UFC light heavyweight championship. Carlos Ulberg is identified in the report as the reigning champion, and he is also described as recovering from an injury. In that kind of scenario, interim-title planning can emerge quickly, both to keep title contention active and to avoid long inactivity at the top of a division.

Prochazka’s message, as characterized by the report, was less about denying he is still working and more about refusing to confirm that an interim title bout is finalized. The article says Prochazka has stayed consistent with his training regimen, which indicates he is preparing for the possibility of a return, but that he has not yet locked in a fight.

Paulo Costa, for his part, is the name attached to the interim-title idea. Costa has long been associated with high-profile matchups at middle and light heavyweight over his UFC run, and interim bouts typically pull from that pool of ranked, recognizable challengers. Still, no agreement is described in the report, and Prochazka’s clarification leaves the door open for other matchups or for delays as Ulberg’s situation evolves.

What makes the timing notable is how interim-title discussions can reshape the division’s short-term landscape. If Ulberg is unable to defend as scheduled, interim planning becomes the way the promotion keeps momentum with contenders. If Prochazka is not yet booked, however, it suggests the UFC’s pairing decisions are still in motion and could change based on medical updates and negotiations.

The Prochazka-Costa storyline also matters because Prochazka has historically thrived when fights are set with urgency, where the winner can immediately stake a clear claim on the next title step. At the same time, Prochazka’s refusal to confirm the interim-bout premise indicates that any immediate “return” storyline should be treated cautiously until the UFC itself announces a bout agreement or an event schedule.

For fans tracking the light heavyweight title picture, the key watch item is whether Prochazka ultimately confirms a matchup, and whether the UFC moves forward with an interim-title fight to keep the championship path from stalling. Ulberg’s recovery remains central to the timeline, and until there is clarity on his readiness, the division is likely to keep orbiting rumor-driven possibilities rather than fixed answers.