Ray Longo, coach of Merab Dvalishvili and Aljamain Sterling, stated that Jiri Prochazka's claim of showing mercy in his loss to Carlos Ulberg at UFC 327 is absurd, suggesting Prochazka simply made a critical mistake rather than showing pity. Carlos Ulberg echoed this sentiment, saying Prochazka was driven by fear and indecision, not mercy, and accused him of playing to the crowd with excuses to secure a rematch. Ulberg also noted that Prochazka didn't approach him after the fight and claimed all of Prochazka's actions are designed for public reaction. Meanwhile, there are reports of tension at City Kickboxing gym between top fighters Israel Adesanya and Ulberg, who have not been seen together recently and do not publicly support each other's performances. Ulberg is suspected to have torn his ACL, with an estimated recovery time of 9-12 months, though final diagnosis is pending this week.
Jiri Prochazka's post-fight claim that he showed mercy during his loss to Carlos Ulberg at UFC 327 on April 11 has drawn sharp rebukes from both Ulberg himself and veteran coach Ray Longo in the days following the event.
Longo, best known as the coach of Merab Dvalishvili and Aljamain Sterling, dismissed Prochazka's explanation as absurd, arguing the Czech fighter simply made a critical mistake and that mercy had nothing to do with the outcome. Prochazka, now 32-6-1 and ranked second in the light heavyweight division, stands six-foot-three with an 80-inch reach and is known for high-volume offense, averaging 5.69 significant strikes per minute with 55 percent accuracy. The loss appears to be a costly one for his divisional standing.
Ulberg, who improves to 15-1-0 and holds the third ranking in the division, was equally dismissive. The New Zealand native described Prochazka's behavior as fear and indecision rather than any act of sportsmanship, and suggested the mercy narrative was crafted to generate sympathy and leverage a rematch. He also noted that Prochazka made no effort to approach him after the fight. At six-foot-four with a 77-inch reach, Ulberg has been one of the division's most productive strikers, landing 6.54 significant strikes per minute at 55 percent accuracy.
The victory is, however, shadowed by a potentially serious setback. Ulberg is suspected to have torn his ACL during the contest, with a diagnosis expected this week and a recovery estimate of nine to twelve months if confirmed.
Why it matters
- A confirmed ACL injury would sideline Ulberg for the better part of a year, stalling his title momentum at a critical moment
- Prochazka's public narrative has drawn unusual attention from outside his division, complicating his path back toward contention
- Separate reports of friction between Ulberg and City Kickboxing teammate Israel Adesanya, ranked eighth at middleweight, add an internal storyline to the gym's public profile
Saturday, April 11, 2026
