![Jiri Prochazka (pictured) claims to have entered UFC 303 with a staph infection. [Image courtesy: @jirkaprochazka on Instagram]](https://staticg.sportskeeda.com/editor/2024/07/49716-17202220450787-1920.jpg)
![Jiri Prochazka (pictured) claims to have entered UFC 303 with a staph infection. [Image courtesy: @jirkaprochazka on Instagram]](data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,%3Csvg%20xmlns='http%3A//www.w3.org/2000/svg'%20xmlns%3Axlink='http%3A//www.w3.org/1999/xlink'%20viewBox='0%200%2010%206.25'%3E%3Cfilter%20id='b'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20color-interpolation-filters='sRGB'%3E%3CfeGaussianBlur%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20stdDeviation='.5'%3E%3C/feGaussianBlur%3E%3CfeComponentTransfer%3E%3CfeFuncA%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20type='discrete'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20tableValues='1%201'%3E%3C/feFuncA%3E%3C/feComponentTransfer%3E%3C/filter%3E%3Cimage%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20filter='url(%23b)'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
For the second time in 12 months, Jiri Prochazka suffered a knockout loss to Alex Pereira at UFC 303. Following each fight, Prochazka gave the same excuse for the loss on both occasions, causing fans to roll their eyes.
In an interview with CNN Prima News, Prochazka reacted to the fight, telling the reporter that he was disappointed with his "passiveness" against Pereira. The former champion went on to say that he had a different game plan that he could not execute due to swelling caused by a staph infection.
In Czech, Prochazka told CNN Prima News:
"Even though I said everything was fine [before the fight], it wasn't. This was caused by staphylococcus, a spot on the body after a tick bite, an unhealed wound on my leg [and] a crunch in my back after heavy lifting."
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Fans were not enthused by the recent statement, accusing Prochazka of being unable to gracefully handle a loss.
As a result, several fans showed mental exhaustion with post-fight excuses from losing fighters including one fan who commented:
"Here we go again"
Others commented:
"That's why he couldn't keep his hands up?"
"Fighters go through a lot. Alex went into this fight with TWO broken toes"
"These staph excuses are getting exhausting"
View more fan reactions to Jiri Prochazka's comments below:
![Fans react to Jiri Prochazka's supposed staph infection ahead of UFC 303. [via @champrds on X]](https://staticg.sportskeeda.com/editor/2024/07/beed5-17202228416378-1920.jpg)
Alex Pereira vs. Jiri Prochazka knockout
Seven months after their first fight, Alex Pereira and Jiri Prochazka met again for the UFC light heavyweight title in the main event of UFC 303 in place of Conor McGregor and Michael Chandler. For the second time in as many fights, Pereira won the fight by second-round knockout.
Unlike the first fight, Pereira ended the rematch with a head kick that put the challenger on his back before ending the night with ground-and-pound to earn the TKO. The finishing sequence was set up with a quick switch kick that Pereira's team claimed they drew up backstage.
In his third defense of the 205-pound belt, Pereira became the first fighter to pick up two championship wins in 2024 after knocking out Jamahal Hill at UFC 300.
