Why does Jiri Prochazka tie his hair like that?

Jiri Prochazka is well known for his distinctive hairstyle. The former light heavyweight champion's unique personality and engaging fighting style have made him one of the most fascinating figures in the MMA community.

Many wonder why Prochazka, especially during fight week, chooses to keep this hairstyle. It turns out that this choice is inspired by Prochazka's philosophy for life and is not merely about aesthetics.

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Why does Jiri Prochazka have his hair like that?

Jiri Prochazka first unveiled his unique hairstyle ahead of his second UFC appearance - the May 2021 bout against Dominick Reyes. During the media day interaction, he revealed the secret and meaning behind the hairstyle, saying:

"I was motivated by the Muay Thai warriors... Traditional wai kru, if you know that. And I like this stuff like I say that it's war hair... It's how I'm taking this moment this fight importantly and seriously. This is the hair just for this moment."

Watch the full interview below:

The Czech fighter, nicknamed 'The Czech Samurai', is a follower of the Bushido code and considers Musashi’s Book of Five Rings, a book about martial arts and way of life, as the principles by which he lives his life.

He is even known for living alone and training in the woods in the lead-up to fights.

Prochazka's hairstyle became an instant hit when he knocked Reyes out with a vicious spinning back elbow. He went on to capture the UFC light heavyweight title in his very next fight against Glover Teixeira at UFC 275.

At the time, fans attached mythical importance to the Czech fighter's hairstyle. This was similar to other examples like 'Bald Volkanovski,' 'Blonde Oliveira' and 'Blonde Brunson,' where improvement in fighters' performances was humorously linked to changes in their hairstyles.

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When Jiri Prochazka explained how his hairstyle helps him in preparation and fights

Jiri Prochazka served as the backup fighter for the light heavyweight title fight between Jan Blachowicz and Glover Teixeira at UFC 267 in October 2021. Both fighters successfully made it to the octagon and Prochazka was not required to fight for the title on short notice.

However, in an interview with TNT Sports [then BT Sports], Prochazka explained how the hairstyle helps him maintain focus in high-stress situations such as these, saying:

"When you're ready to fight, you need to look like a fighter, like a warrior... That hairstyle keeps my spirit in the war mode. So, that's all!"

Check out Jiri Prochazka's comments below (10:02):