By BBC (Sports) | Created at 2025-01-16 14:18:34 | Updated at 2025-01-31 03:25:04
2 weeks ago
Czech fighter Jiri Prochazka has invited a fan of his who is undergoing cancer treatment to his fight against Jamahal Hill on Saturday at UFC 311.
The MMA fan emulated Prochazka's distinctive haircut having lost her own hair to chemotherapy and shared a picture online in December.
Prochazka spotted the post and says he is hopeful she will be in attendance for his fight at California's Intuit Dome.
"We offered her to see the fights live," Prochazka said at media day on Wednesday.
Prochazka, 32, draws from a samurai code in his life inside and outside the octagon and his shaved head with a single, straight ponytail has become one of his trademarks.
In December, he responded to his fan by saying: "Every fighter should have war hair."
Speaking about her experience on Reddit, the fan said Prochazka was her "favourite UFC fighter".
"I had a lot of fun doing this with my friend before shaving it all off," she said.
"Cancer sucks, but you have to make the best of it sometimes."
Prochazka, a former UFC light-heavyweight champion, can secure another shot at the belt with a win over rival contender Hill.
Brazilian star Alex Pereira currently holds the belt and both Hill and Prochazka have lost to the champion.
USA fighter Hill, 33, has spoken at length about his desire to fight Pereira again, but Prochazka says he is only focused on the fight on Saturday.
"I will just say that it's a big mistake when you are not focused on what's right before you, and you're looking for another opponent," added Prochazka.
"It will cost you a lot. Who are you? It's just about staying humble, staying focused on what's before you."
