Jiri Prochazka addressed his recent defeat to Carlos Ulberg, rejecting claims that he showed mercy during the fight. The former champion stated he lost concentration and got caught, rather than deliberately holding back against his injured opponent. Prochazka cited his favorite book, Miyamoto Musashi's "The Book of Five Rings," emphasizing the philosophy of fighting to win without hesitation. He acknowledged the fight could have been conducted more intelligently but attributed the loss to a lapse in focus rather than compassion. The Czech fighter's post-fight analysis suggests he believes his fighting IQ, not mercy, was the deciding factor. Prochazka has never prioritized fighting conservatively, which may have contributed to his downfall against the one-legged Ulberg.
Jiri Prochazka has broken his silence on his recent loss to Carlos Ulberg, pushing back firmly against suggestions that he pulled his punches because his opponent was fighting through an injury.
The Czech light heavyweight, now ranked second in the division with a professional record of 32-6-1, said the defeat came down to a loss of concentration rather than any act of compassion. Prochazka acknowledged the fight could have been managed more intelligently, but insisted the result reflected a lapse in focus — he got caught, plain and simple. To reinforce his point, the 33-year-old from Brno referenced Miyamoto Musashi's "The Book of Five Rings," invoking its philosophy of committing fully to victory without hesitation. It is a mindset that has long defined his career, and one he suggested he failed to apply consistently on the night.
Prochazka is one of the most aggressive fighters in the UFC's 205-pound division. Standing six-foot-three with an 80-inch reach, he lands 5.69 significant strikes per minute at 55 percent accuracy — numbers that reflect a high-volume, attack-first approach that leaves little room for conservative tactics.
Carlos Ulberg, the New Zealander nicknamed Black Jag and trained out of City Kickboxing, improved to 15-1-0 with the victory and holds the third ranking in the division. The six-foot-four striker actually edges Prochazka in output, landing 6.54 significant strikes per minute at the same 55 percent accuracy. At 35, Ulberg has now positioned himself as a serious title contender.
Why it matters
- Prochazka drops to second in the light heavyweight rankings following the defeat, tightening the divisional picture at the top
- Ulberg rises to third and builds a compelling case for a title shot after finishing a former champion
- Both fighters share near-identical striking accuracy, making their rematch potential a stylistically fascinating proposition
