Jiri Prochazka explains his 'unconventional' training in preparation for his fight with Rountree at UFC 320

Jiri Prochazka before his UFC fight. Photo: Reproduction/Instagram

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Besides knockouts and an aggressive style inside the octagon, Jiri Prochazka is also known for adopting unconventional training methods. Scheduled to face Khalil Rountree at UFC 320, set for next Saturday (4), the Czech fighter has once again opted for unusual practices in his preparation. According to him, these extreme challenges have a clear purpose in his evolution as an athlete.

In a press conference during the event's media day, Prochazka said that swimming under the ice was an experience that forced him to face the real risk of death head-on. For the Czech samurai, the experience became a metaphor for fighting, where there is no middle ground, something that may be reflected in his performances in the octagon.

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“I just wanted to. I went there, and then I realized: You could just die here. Because when I first went underwater and just looked under the ice, man, that was terrifying. I told myself, 'You can't do this just because you want to. You really need to want it from the bottom of your heart to succeed.' I approached it like that. Really like a fight: either I would win or nothing. I needed to finish it because I didn't want to get stuck somewhere under the ice,” said Jiri Prochazka.

The former champion also linked the experience to the very meaning of his career. For him, experiencing intense situations is a way to connect with the essence of fighting and enhance his skills. Among the activities he constantly pursues are mountain climbing, training in nature, and meditation sessions, activities that, according to him, help strengthen him as an athlete and human being.

"Maybe that's why I fight. Because you're constantly touching on this essence of loss, of death, of losing everything. When you give your all in training, anywhere, that's the meaning of life. I want to live a rare life. To feel myself, that I'm alive. All these things—climbing mountains, training in nature, all these things, meditation—help me improve all my skills to be a better fighter," concluded the former champion.

Watch Jiri Prochazka train for UFC 320

Jiri Prochazka swims 30 meters under the ice in a frozen lake

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— Championship Rounds (@ChampRDS) May 7, 2025

Jiri Prochazka ’s unique training involves sprinting with his mouth and nose closed, pushing his limits with no breathing

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— Red Corner MMA (@RedCorner_MMA) October 1, 2025

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