Carlos Ulberg has firmly rejected Jiri Prochazka's claim that he showed mercy during their fight at UFC 327. Ulberg stated there was no mercy, asserting that Prochazka was driven by fear and indecisiveness rather than compassion. He accused Prochazka of playing to the crowd and suggested the mercy narrative is an excuse to secure a rematch. Ulberg dismissed any possibility of granting Prochazka a rematch and predicted that Magomed Ankalaev would defeat the Czech fighter. The New Zealander emphasized that the difference between a champion and someone playing for the audience lies in their approach to finishing fights.
Carlos Ulberg has pushed back hard against Jiri Prochazka's claim of showing mercy during their light heavyweight clash at UFC 327 on April 11, calling the narrative an excuse and predicting the Czech fighter will lose to Magomed Ankalaev.
Ulberg, known as "Black Jag," improved to 15-1-0 with the victory and holds the number-three ranking at light heavyweight. The 35-year-old New Zealander, who trains out of City Kickboxing, stands six-foot-four with a 77-inch reach and lands an eye-catching 6.54 significant strikes per minute at 55 percent accuracy. He flatly rejected Prochazka's version of events, saying there was no mercy involved and that Prochazka was instead held back by fear and indecisiveness. Ulberg accused his opponent of playing to the crowd and suggested the mercy story exists solely to manufacture grounds for a rematch — one he has no interest in granting.
Prochazka, ranked second in the division at 32-6-1, is a 33-year-old Czech fighter who trains at Jetsaam Gym Brno. The six-foot-three orthodox striker carries a 203-centimeter reach and averages 5.69 significant strikes per minute with 55 percent accuracy. His aggressive, unorthodox style has defined his career, but Ulberg argued the difference between a genuine finisher and a showman is the willingness to close out a fight when the opportunity is there.
Rather than a rematch, Ulberg pointed forward in the division, predicting that number-one contender Magomed Ankalaev would defeat Prochazka. The 34-year-old Russian, representing Gorets Fight Club at 21-2-1, is also ranked fifth pound-for-pound and brings a more measured game — 3.65 significant strikes per minute complemented by 0.79 takedowns per 15 minutes.
Why it matters
- Ulberg's win moves him directly into the light heavyweight title conversation from the third-ranked spot
- His dismissal of a Prochazka rematch clears a potential path toward Ankalaev or the divisional champion
- The contrasting finishing philosophies of Ulberg and Prochazka frame a broader debate about the number-two contender's standing after the loss
Saturday, April 11, 2026
