Jiri Prochazka showed off just enough defense to keep Jamahal Hill guessing while he scored several knockdowns to earn a third-round stoppage at UFC 311.

While Prochazka was more elusive than usual, he still welcomed a war with Hill as the former light heavyweight champions blasted each other throughout the fight. In the end, Prochazka’s ability to avoid Hill’s biggest punches and the deliver several of his own made the difference.

Prochazka put Hill on the canvas a couple of times during the final five minutes before he unloaded a few more shots on the ground with the referee deciding enough was enough with the fight ending at 3:01 in the third and final round.

“I expected everything,” Prochazka said about his performance. “After my last fight, I said I don’t know it was but I wanted to have more hands up so I hope it worked. I think you saw it. In training, a lot more importance in the training. I will be every time, me. So I will do my challenges in nature, meditations and all these things but only one thing, hands up just a little bit.

“That’s in my nature. I have this one wildness. Sometimes I need to catch some punches to unleash the true Jiri Prochazka.”

The always unorthodox Prochazka was constantly moving before leaping inside where he clipped Hill with a hard right hook. Hill smiled back at him before unleashing a combination of his own with Prochazka keeping his hands low after stressing improvements in his defense leading up to the fight.

As the striking exchanges continued, Prochazka ended up dropping Hill with a short left hand that twisted his head around before he fell to the canvas with the Los Angeles crowd erupting in approval. Hill survived the onslaught before getting back to his feet but he was struggling with his distance in an effort to fire back at Prochazka.

As the second round got started, Hill showed more confidence in his hands as he began unloading combinations with a few shots slipping through Prochazka’s defense. In return, Prochazka kept moving and staying away from Hill whenever he got too aggressive while launching straight punches from the outside to keep his opponent honest.

While Prochakza’s sporadic movement kept him guessing at times, Hill was beginning to aim and fire with better accuracy including a stiff body shot that landed with a thud. Hill continued working to the body but a chaotic exchange saw Prochazka crack him with a hard punch directly to the chin.

Prochazka followed up with a flurry but Hill did a good job avowing anymore damage so he could reset in the center of the cage.

As time passed the exchanges really started flying with Hill coming up short on some of his punches and Prochazka catching him flush in return. Prochazka put Hill down with a huge punch and did the same thing again a moment later as he continued to dish out more and more damage.

Finally with Hill crashing to the canvas and clearly stunned, Prochazka followed him to the ground with a few more punches that ended the fight. It was a crazy back-and-forth battle but Prochazka got the job done and now he’s gunning for another chance to face the only person to hand him a loss in the UFC.

“I said it many times, maybe you will not believe me, but I want a third fight with Alex Pereira,” Prochazka shouted.

Will he get that chance? It’s tough to say with Pereira already scheduled to face Magomed Ankalaev at UFC 313 but there’s no doubt that Prochazka remains a constant threat to anyone and everyone at 205 pounds.