Jiří Procházka to Face Undefeated Navajo Stirling at UFC Qatar

The bout is set for five rounds in the light heavyweight division.

The timing of the contract signing

While the UFC announced the bout in late September, Procházka revealed on his social media channels that the formal contract was signed only days later. Sharing a photograph of the signing, the Czech fighter noted that his preparation for this new chapter has begun with renewed intensity. Today it is finally signed, Procházka wrote, adding, I started again with more passion for further progress and with a f***ing killer mode that I will launch at the right time. He also thanked his family, friends, and team for embarking on this new chapter, noting that while the goal remains unchanged, the path to it is not always direct.

The selection of Navajo Stirling

Other options were limited, as Carlos Ulberg is currently injured, Alex Pereira and Jamahal Hill have moved to the heavyweight division, and Procházka has already defeated Khalil Rountree Jr.

An October 24 date in Abu Dhabi was also considered but ultimately discarded due to Procházka’s rehabilitation needs, travel, and personal commitments, including the birth of his daughter. Vzhledem k nejistotě kolem Costy i otazníku u Ankalajeva jsme nakonec kývli na Stirlinga. Chtěli jsme především mít jistotu, že zápas bude.

Comparison of the fighters’ paths

The matchup features a contrast in experience levels. Procházka, ranked #2 in the UFC light heavyweight division, faces Stirling, the #5-ranked contender and a 28-year-old unbeaten prospect with an 11–0 professional record. In 2026, he moved up the rankings by defeating Bruno Lopes, Ion Cuțelabă, and former champion Jan Błachowicz, the latter being stopped in the first round.

Stirling joined the UFC in September 2024 via Dana White’s Contender Series. While some, including Oktagon promoter Ondřej Novotný, view the experience gap as a potential class difference in Procházka’s favor, the market remains cautious. Early odds for the Doha event list Procházka as the favorite, with initial figures ranging between 1.65 and 1.70, while Stirling sits slightly above 2.00, reflecting the market’s respect for the New Zealander’s undefeated streak.

Lessons from the Ulberg defeat

Procházka’s team is treating the Stirling fight as a critical challenge, acknowledging the stylistic similarities between Stirling and Carlos Ulberg, who defeated Procházka via knockout in April. Karaivanov emphasized that the team is applying lessons from the Ulberg loss to their current preparation in Thailand, where they have found it easier to secure high-quality sparring partners.

Čeká nás druhý zápas proti City Kickboxing a znovu proti podobnému somatotypu, tentokrát navíc proti mladšímu a hladovějšímu soupeři. Je to kluk, který nemá co ztratit a jeho kariéra jde nahoru. Musíme se tomu postavit.

Martin Karaivanov, via Sport.cz

The schedule in Doha

Alongside the Procházka-Stirling headliner, the card is set to feature bouts including Aljamain Sterling versus Kevin Vallejos and Dan Hooker against Brian Ortega. Other scheduled matchups include Cannonier vs. Aliskerov, Gaziev vs. Teixeira, Matthews vs. Abdullayev, Topuria vs. Luna, Almabayev vs. Horiguchi, and Albazi vs. Costa. Fans in the Czech Republic can watch the event on Nova Sport 6, which is available via providers like Telly starting at 340 CZK. Procházka’s team has stated they are not currently calculating the potential for a future title shot, choosing instead to focus entirely on the upcoming challenge in Qatar.