Carlos Ulberg has firmly rejected Jiří Procházka's assertion that he showed mercy during their bout. Ulberg stated there was no mercy and accused Procházka of being driven by fear and indecision rather than compassion. He characterized Procházka's comments as playing to the public and suggested the Czech fighter is making excuses to justify a rematch request. Ulberg dismissed any possibility of granting Procházka a rematch, expressing confidence that Magomed Ankalaev would defeat Procházka if they were to fight. The callout underscores the tension between the two fighters following their controversial encounter.
Carlos Ulberg has pushed back hard against Jiří Procházka's claim that the Czech fighter showed mercy during their recent bout, calling the assertion a public-facing excuse and pointing to fear and indecision as the real reasons behind Procházka's performance.
Ulberg, ranked third in the light heavyweight division, flatly denied any mercy was shown and accused Procházka of constructing a narrative to justify a rematch request. The New Zealander characterized the comments as playing to the crowd rather than reflecting what actually happened inside the cage. He was equally firm on the rematch question, making clear he has no interest in granting Procházka another shot.
The 35-year-old City Kickboxing product carries a 15-1 record and has established himself as one of the more dangerous strikers at 205 pounds, averaging 6.54 significant strikes per minute at a 55 percent accuracy rate. Standing six-foot-four with a 77-inch reach, Ulberg presents a physical challenge for anyone in the division.
Instead of a rematch with Procházka, Ulberg pointed toward Magomed Ankalaev, expressing confidence that the Russian would defeat Procházka if the two were matched up. Ankalaev, ranked first in the division and fifth pound-for-pound, holds a 21-2-1 record and at 34 years old remains the dominant force at light heavyweight. The Gorets Fight Club representative stands six-foot-three with a 75-inch reach and mixes his striking with a steady takedown rate of 0.79 per 15 minutes.
Why it matters
- Ulberg's dismissal of a rematch signals he is positioning himself for bigger opportunities at 205 pounds rather than revisiting a fight already won
- His endorsement of Ankalaev over Procházka adds a layer of divisional politics to an already contentious post-fight exchange
- The exchange keeps the light heavyweight picture unsettled, with rankings implications hinging on how the Procházka rematch debate resolves
