Jiri Prochazka has posted a statement following his loss to Carlos Ulberg, referencing his favorite book, Miyamoto Musashi's "The Book of Five Rings." Prochazka stated that showing mercy was inappropriate and that he needs to eliminate that part of himself. He acknowledged losing concentration during the fight and apologized to fans for his performance. Prochazka promised to return stronger than ever and mentioned going home to witness "the miracle of life," possibly referring to the birth of a child. He maintains that he will come back from this setback.
Jiri Prochazka has broken his silence following his defeat to Carlos Ulberg, publishing a personal statement in which the former light heavyweight champion reflected on what went wrong and pledged to come back stronger.
The 33-year-old Czech fighter, who holds a professional record of 32-6-1 and is currently ranked second in the light heavyweight division, drew on the philosophy of Miyamoto Musashi's "The Book of Five Rings" to frame his response to the loss. Prochazka acknowledged that he lost concentration during the fight and identified a moment of mercy as a critical error, stating that such a tendency is something he must eliminate from his approach. He also apologized to his fans for his performance and hinted at a significant personal development back home, referencing witnessing "the miracle of life" — widely interpreted as a possible reference to the birth of a child.
Ulberg, the New Zealand-born contender fighting out of City Kickboxing, improved his record to 15-1-0 with the victory and sits at third in the divisional rankings. The six-foot-four striker, who carries an 80-inch reach and lands 6.54 significant strikes per minute, has established himself as one of the most dangerous finishers in the 205-pound weight class.
Why it matters
- Prochazka's loss reshuffles the top of a competitive light heavyweight division, with the Czech dropping a high-profile bout as the number-two ranked contender
- Ulberg's win strengthens his case as a legitimate title challenger at 205 pounds
- The mental and philosophical framing of Prochazka's statement signals he views this setback as correctable rather than defining
- A return to full focus from a fighter who averages 5.69 significant strikes per minute at 55 percent accuracy makes him a continued threat at the top of the division
