Ray Longo, coach to Merab Dvalishvili and Aljamain Sterling, commented on Jiri Prochazka's loss to Carlos Ulberg at UFC 327. Longo stated that Prochazka's claim of showing "mercy" to Ulberg was nonsense, suggesting it was simply a bad performance. He referenced Prochazka's unconventional training methods and questioned his mental approach to fighting. Carlos Ulberg also disputed Prochazka's mercy claim, stating it was fear and hesitation that affected the Czech fighter, not compassion. Ulberg believes Prochazka is playing to the audience and that Magomed Ankalaev will dominate him in any potential matchup. Tension is reportedly growing at City Kickboxing gym between Ulberg and Israel Adesanya, with neither supporting each other publicly. Ulberg's injury is suspected to be an ACL tear with an estimated recovery time of 9-12 months, though confirmation is pending.
Ray Longo has weighed in on Jiri Prochazka's defeat to Carlos Ulberg at UFC 327 on April 11, dismissing the Czech fighter's post-fight claim that he showed "mercy" to his opponent as nonsense.
Longo, known primarily as coach to Merab Dvalishvili and Aljamain Sterling, called the mercy narrative a cover for what was simply a bad performance. He also referenced Prochazka's unconventional training methods and raised broader questions about the 33-year-old's mental framework as a competitor. Prochazka, who trains out of Jetsaam Gym Brno, holds a 32-6-1 record and entered the fight ranked second in the light heavyweight division. A high-volume striker who lands 5.69 significant strikes per minute at 55 percent accuracy, he has long been regarded as one of the division's most dangerous and unpredictable fighters.
Ulberg, ranked third at light heavyweight, echoed Longo's skepticism from his own perspective. The New Zealand-born City Kickboxing product, now 15-1-0, rejected the mercy framing entirely, arguing it was fear and hesitation — not compassion — that affected Prochazka. The 35-year-old also expressed confidence that Magomed Ankalaev would dominate Prochazka in any future matchup. Ulberg himself leads all fighters mentioned in striking output, averaging 6.54 significant strikes per minute at 55 percent accuracy across his career.
The fallout extends inside City Kickboxing as well. Tension is reportedly building between Ulberg and teammate Israel Adesanya, with neither man publicly supporting the other. Adesanya, 36, holds a 24-6-0 record and is currently ranked eighth in the middleweight division.
Why it matters
- Prochazka's loss and the surrounding controversy could complicate his path back toward the light heavyweight title picture from the number-two ranking.
- Ulberg's suspected ACL tear, with an estimated nine-to-twelve month recovery pending confirmation, raises questions about when he can capitalize on the victory.
- Reported friction between Ulberg and Adesanya inside City Kickboxing adds an internal dynamic worth monitoring as both fighters navigate their respective careers.
Saturday, April 11, 2026
