Jiri Prochazka presses Paulo Costa for a 205-pound matchup, saying he is “waiting for the contract”

UFC 205-pound talk shifted from the matchmaking board to the public conversation Thursday as Jiri Prochazka called out Paulo Costa over a possible fight this fall. In the center of the back-and-forth is Prochazka’s insistence that the fight is not moving until the paperwork is settled, a stance he summarized with the line, “I’m waiting for the contract.”

According to the report, Prochazka and Costa have been trading shots while the idea of a light heavyweight matchup continues to circulate. The dispute is framed as a direct “beef” between the two fighters, with each leaning into the rivalry angle as they try to force a resolution to the potential booking.

The reported target is a fight at 205 pounds, which matters because it sits inside one of the UFC’s most consequential weight classes for title contention and matchup planning. At light heavyweight, a high-profile fight can quickly change who is viewed as next in line, even when the bout is not explicitly announced as a title eliminator.

Prochazka’s comment also indicates impatience with the process. By emphasizing the contract rather than the promotional calendar, he is effectively putting the decision-making pressure on the UFC to finalize terms and confirm the matchup. That kind of public push is a familiar tactic in MMA, but it is still notable when both sides appear eager to square up without delays.

For Costa, the reported callout continues a pattern where “possible fight” conversations are used to put a fighter’s preferred opponent on the radar. If the UFC were to align both men for a fall booking, it would satisfy the narrative each fighter is trying to build: Prochazka wants a direct opponent at 205, and Costa wants to convert the public back-and-forth into a signed matchup.

Still, no official bout date, venue, or contractual confirmation is included in the available report. Until the UFC or an official regulatory listing validates the fight, any matchup described as “possible” should be treated as a negotiation track rather than a finalized event.

What to watch next is whether the UFC moves from public challenges to formal announcement. If contract talk escalates into confirmation, the next question will be where the bout sits in the light heavyweight picture, since the division’s scheduling is often shaped by rankings, championship timing, and the next wave of contenders.