Carlos Ulberg has dismissed Jiří Procházka's claim that he showed mercy during their bout. Ulberg stated there was no mercy and that the difference between a champion and someone playing to the crowd is precisely in that moment. He believes Procházka was driven by fear and hesitation, and is now making excuses to secure a rematch. Ulberg insists there will be no rematch and predicts that Magomed Ankalaev will defeat Procházka. He maintains he is focused on becoming the best in the world.
Carlos Ulberg has pushed back hard on Jiří Procházka's post-fight narrative, flatly rejecting the former champion's suggestion that he showed mercy during their recent light heavyweight bout.
Ulberg, who fights out of City Kickboxing in New Zealand, said there was no mercy shown and drew a clear line between what separates a true champion from someone playing to the crowd. In his view, that decisive moment exposed Procházka rather than defined him, and he believes the Czech fighter is now hiding behind excuses to engineer a rematch. Ulberg wants no part of it. The six-foot-four, 193-centimeter striker carries a 15-1-0 record into this public dispute and currently sits ranked third in the UFC light heavyweight division at 35 years old. His output inside the cage is among the most aggressive in the division, landing 6.54 significant strikes per minute at a 55 percent accuracy rate, with a reach of 77 inches stretching to 196 centimeters.
Instead of looking backward, Ulberg is pointing toward Magomed Ankalaev as the fight that should be made next. The Russian contender holds the division's number-one ranking and sits fifth in the pound-for-pound standings with a record of 21-2-1. At 34 years old and fighting out of Gorets Fight Club, Ankalaev is a technically precise operator who lands 3.65 significant strikes per minute and averages 0.79 takedowns per 15 minutes, adding a consistent wrestling threat to his composed striking.
Why it matters
- Ulberg's dismissal of a Procházka rematch reshapes the light heavyweight landscape heading into the next title cycle
- An Ulberg versus Ankalaev matchup would pit the division's third-ranked fighter against its top contender, with title implications for whoever wins
- The style contrast is stark — Ulberg's high-volume striking against Ankalaev's measured, multi-dimensional approach — making it one of the more compelling potential matchups in the 205-pound division
