Apr 13, 2024; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Jiri Prochazka (red gloves) reacts after defeating Aleksandar Rakic (not pictured) during UFC 300 at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

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Jiri Prochazka Shaves Head In Solidarity With Cancer-Stricken Girl; UFC CEO Dana White Reciprocates With This Gesture!

Jiri Prochazka shaves his head in a heartfelt gesture for a young cancer patient, earning UFC CEO's admiration!

Fighters often showcase their warrior spirit inside the cage, but sometimes, the most meaningful battles are fought outside of it. Jiri Prochazka, the former UFC light heavyweight champion known for his distinctive war braid and samurai philosophy, has always marched to the beat of his own drum.

His signature hairstyle has been as much a part of his identity as his explosive fighting style and spiritual approach to combat. So when he showed up to the UFC 311 press conference with a completely shaved head, everyone knew there had to be a special story behind this dramatic change.

Also Read: Jiri Prochazka Highlights Jamahal Hill’s ‘Big Mistake’ Ahead Of UFC 311 Clash!

The Story Behind Jiri Prochazka’s Fully Shaven Head

The story began when Ashley McGarity, a young woman battling cervical cancer, shared her journey on Reddit. In a touching tribute to her favorite fighter, she had cut and styled her remaining hair to match Prochazka’s iconic braid before starting chemotherapy.

Jiri Prochazka shaved his head and is donating $50K to support a fan who was diagnosed with cancer ❤️🙏

Dana White adds that he'll match his donation to make it $100K#UFC311 #UFC #MMA pic.twitter.com/SCbg3TucVa
— Championship Rounds (@ChampRDS) January 17, 2025

When word reached the Czech warrior about Ashley’s gesture, he didn’t hesitate to respond in kind. Not only did he shave his head in solidarity, but he also announced a generous donation of 1 million Czech Koruna (approximately $50,000) to cancer research through his foundation. The announcement came as Prochazka celebrated reaching one million Instagram followers. He proved that true champions use their platform for more than just self-promotion.

Dana White Wins Hearts With Kind Gesture

The impact of Jiri Prochazka’s gesture quickly rippled through the MMA community. UFC CEO Dana White, known for his business acumen as much as his occasional gruffness, immediately stepped up to match Prochazka’s $50,000 donation.

In a sport where trash talk and bravado often grab the headlines, this display of humanity offered a refreshing change of pace. Ashley McGarity will have the best seat in the house this Saturday, watching cageside as Prochazka faces off against Jamahal Hill in a crucial light heavyweight bout.

Both fighters are looking to bounce back from losses to current champion Alex Pereira. The winner of this bout will definitely find himself in the conversation for a title shot. Meanwhile, Jiri Prochazka has already scored a victory in many fans’ hearts before even stepping into the octagon!

(Image Credit: Mark J. Rebilas – Imagn Images)

Dana White

Jamahal Hill

Jiri Prochazka

UFC 311

Zaid Quraishi

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I am a dedicated MMA and Boxing content writer at The Playoffs. I was instantly hooked on MMA after watching the fight between Lyoto Machida vs. Gegard Mousasi back in 2014, and since then, i have been an avid writer with a deep love for the sport and its techniques, providing readers with a thorough understanding of the sport. My favorite aspect of working at The Playoffs is the creative freedom it provides. The diverse range of topics, from listicles and SEO to news articles, keeps me engaged and motivates me to continuously improve my skills! I aim to capture the excitement of the combat sports world in my writing, acting as the middleman between fighters and their die-hard fans. It is kind of like a referee, but with words!