Carlos Ulberg has rejected Jiri Prochazka's statement that he showed mercy during their bout. Ulberg insists there was no mercy and attributes Prochazka's behavior to fear and indecision rather than compassion. He believes Prochazka is playing to the audience and that his mercy claim is merely an excuse to seek a rematch. Ulberg firmly states there will be no rematch and predicts that Magomed Ankalaev will defeat Prochazka if they fight. He distinguishes between being a true champion and someone who performs for the crowd.
Carlos Ulberg has publicly pushed back against Jiri Prochazka's claim that he showed mercy during their light heavyweight contest, flatly rejecting the narrative and offering his own interpretation of what took place between them.
Ulberg, the New Zealand-based City Kickboxing product who carries a 15-1-0 record and holds the number three ranking at 205 pounds, argued that what Prochazka characterised as compassion was in fact fear and indecision on the Czech fighter's part. The 35-year-old "Black Jag" stands six-foot-four with a 77-inch reach and is one of the division's more active strikers, landing 6.54 significant strikes per minute at 55 percent accuracy.
Prochazka, ranked second in the division at 33 years old, carries a 32-6-1 record and is himself no passive fighter, averaging 5.69 significant strikes per minute with a reach of 80 inches. The former champion trains out of Jetsaam Gym Brno and has built a reputation for theatrical, high-risk exchanges, which is part of why Ulberg's rebuttal carries an edge to it. Ulberg suggested Prochazka is performing for an audience and that the mercy claim is little more than a convenient excuse to lobby for a rematch.
On that front, Ulberg was unambiguous — there will be no second fight between them. He also weighed in on the wider divisional picture, predicting that number one contender Magomed Ankalaev would beat Prochazka if the two were to meet. Ankalaev, 34, holds a 21-2-1 record and sits fifth in the pound-for-pound rankings while representing Russia's Gorets Fight Club.
Why it matters
- Ulberg's rejection of a rematch shapes the immediate contender picture at light heavyweight
- Prochazka at number two and Ankalaev at number one are positioned as the division's next title challengers, and Ulberg's prediction adds a public dimension to that rivalry
- The dispute highlights a deeper contrast in identity, with Ulberg drawing a pointed distinction between genuine championship mentality and crowd-oriented performance
