Ray Longo, coach of Merab Dvalishvili and Aljamain Sterling, commented on mental health issues in MMA following Jiri Prochazka's loss to Carlos Ulberg. Longo dismissed Prochazka's claim that he showed mercy, saying the Czech fighter simply made a critical mistake. Carlos Ulberg echoed this sentiment, stating that Prochazka was driven by fear and indecision rather than mercy, and accused him of playing to the crowd with excuses to secure a rematch. Ulberg believes Prochazka has no chance against Magomed Ankalaev and criticized him for not showing respect after their fight. The post also mentions apparent tension at City Kickboxing gym between top fighters, with Israel Adesanya and Ulberg reportedly not seen together recently and ignoring each other's recent performances.
Ray Longo and Carlos Ulberg have both publicly pushed back on Jiri Prochazka's assertion that he showed mercy during their UFC 327 contest on April 11, with the veteran coach and the New Zealand knockout artist offering pointed criticism of the Czech fighter's post-fight narrative.
Longo, best known as the head coach of Merab Dvalishvili and Aljamain Sterling, addressed the mental health dimension Prochazka raised following the bout and flatly rejected the mercy explanation. In Longo's view, Prochazka simply made a critical mistake that cost him the fight — nothing more.
Ulberg was equally direct. Now ranked third in the light heavyweight division at 35 years old, the City Kickboxing product improved his record to 15-1-0 with the victory. Standing six-foot-four with a 77-inch reach, "Black Jag" lands an imposing 6.54 significant strikes per minute at 55 percent accuracy, numbers that reflect his aggressive, high-output style. Ulberg argued that what Prochazka characterized as mercy was in reality fear and indecision, and accused the ranked number-two contender of manufacturing excuses to build a case for a rematch.
Prochazka, a 33-year-old from the Czech Republic, carries a 32-6-1 record and remains one of the division's most dangerous strikers, averaging 5.69 significant strikes per minute at 55 percent accuracy. Ulberg, however, believes Prochazka holds little prospect against Magomed Ankalaev and took issue with what he described as a lack of respect shown after their fight.
Why it matters
- Ulberg's win at UFC 327 reshuffles the top of a competitive light heavyweight division and puts him in position for a title shot conversation.
- Prochazka's public framing of the loss has drawn criticism that could affect how the division's stakeholders and matchmakers view a potential rematch request.
- Reports of friction inside City Kickboxing, with Ulberg and Israel Adesanya — a middleweight ranked eighth at 24-6-0 — apparently avoiding acknowledgment of each other's recent performances, add an internal subplot worth monitoring.
Saturday, April 11, 2026
