Jiri Prochazka has been plotting for Carlos Ulberg prior to knowing about the fight.

With Alex Pereira vacating his light heavyweight title, Prochazka (32-5-1 MMA, 6-2 UFC) and Ulberg (13-1 MMA, 9-1 UFC) will battle for the vacant belt in the UFC 327 (Paramount+) headliner on April 11 at the Kaseya Center in Miami.

Prochazka was angling for a trilogy bout with Pereira after rebounding with back-to-back knockouts of Jamahal Hill and Khalil Rountree. However, with Pereira leaving the division behind, Prochazka won’t get his opportunity to avenge his two losses to “Poatan.”

“I’m not surprised,” Prochazka said of Pereira vacating his belt on “The Ariel Helwani Show.” “I think it’s a gentleman thing. When you go up, it’s normal to release the title. I hoped (to meet Pereira again). Possible opponents for me, there was Ulberg or Pereira. I wanted just one of these two for a title fight because I think other fighters don’t deserve it, and I made enough to take back what’s mine. … I believe sooner or later Alex Pereira will come in my way.”

Prochazka opened up as a slight favorite over Ulberg, who’s on a nine-fight winning streak. Prochazka sees a kink in Ulberg’s armor that he’s confident he’ll expose.

“I already chose the way I like to hunt Ulberg because he don’t like the pressure,” Prochazka said. “He don’t like to be hunted. This is what I say to myself. I need to be that one who catches this guy. There is no other way to fight with him. He is fast, good kickboxer, he likes to jump a lot, to be light on the legs. He don’t like to wrestle. He don’t like to be on the ground. So, pressure, pressure. That’s it.”

This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: UFC 327: Jiri Prochazka reveals way to expose Carlos Ulberg