Jiri Prochazka calls out Paulo Costa beef over possible fight: ‘I’m waiting for the contract’

Former light heavyweight champion Jiri Prochazka has issued a direct callout to Paulo Costa, demanding the newly promoted 205-pounder accept a UFC fight offer. In a social media video released over the weekend, Prochazka claimed the promotion has tabled a bout for October or November, accusing Costa of dodging the matchup while publicly campaigning for fights against higher-ranked opponents.

"Don't tag me, don't mention me in your posts," Prochazka said in the message. "You have an offer from UFC to fight me October or November, and if you don't want to fight me, don't mention me, don't speak about me. I'm waiting for the contract for this fight."

Both fighters have been sidelined since UFC 327 in April, where Prochazka was knocked out by Carlos Ulberg in a vacant light heavyweight title fight, and Costa made his debut at 205 pounds by stopping previously undefeated contender Azamat Murzakanov in the third round. Since then, Costa has been vocal on social media, positioning himself as the division's next title challenger and criticizing established fighters like former champion Magomed Ankalaev for making the weight class boring.

However, Costa flatly denied receiving any offer to face Prochazka, firing back with his own social media response. "EVERYONE wants to fight me because I'm THE GUY in this boring division," Costa posted. "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."

The public dispute underscores tension between two of the light heavyweight division's most prominent recent movers, each seeking high-profile matchups to establish themselves in a competitive 205-pound landscape.