Carlos Ulberg firmly denied Jiri Prochazka's assertion that he showed mercy during their fight, stating there was no compassion involved. Ulberg argued that Prochazka was driven by fear and indecision rather than mercy, and accused him of playing to the audience. He believes Prochazka is using the mercy excuse as justification to secure a rematch. Ulberg stated he does not believe Prochazka will get a rematch and predicted that Magomed Ankalaev will defeat Prochazka decisively. Ulberg positioned himself as focused on being the best in the world rather than engaging in theatrics.
Carlos Ulberg has pushed back hard on Jiri Prochazka's post-fight narrative, flatly rejecting the Czech contender's claim that he showed mercy during their light heavyweight bout and offering a blunt prediction for where the division is headed.
Ulberg, who fights out of City Kickboxing in New Zealand, carries a 15-1 record and holds the number-three ranking at 185 pounds — one spot below Prochazka. Standing six-foot-four with a 77-inch reach, the 35-year-old has built his reputation on volume and precision, landing 6.54 significant strikes per minute at 55 percent accuracy, among the more dangerous outputs in the division.
Prochazka, ranked second at light heavyweight, has his own credentials. The 33-year-old Czech fighter holds a 32-6-1 record and stands six-foot-three with an extraordinary 80-inch reach. He produces 5.69 significant strikes per minute at the same 55 percent clip, making him one of the most active and unorthodox strikers in the weight class.
Despite that pedigree, Ulberg dismissed Prochazka's mercy claim entirely. He argued that Prochazka was operating from fear and indecision rather than any act of restraint on Ulberg's part, and accused him of playing to the crowd. Ulberg went further, suggesting the mercy narrative exists primarily to manufacture justification for a rematch — one he does not believe the UFC will grant.
Instead, Ulberg pointed to the number-one contender, Magomed Ankalaev, as Prochazka's more likely fate. The 34-year-old Russian carries a 21-2-1 record and ranks fifth pound-for-pound. Ankalaev lands 3.65 significant strikes per minute but averages 0.79 takedowns per 15 minutes, giving him a well-rounded toolset that Ulberg predicted would translate into a decisive win over Prochazka.
Why it matters
- Ulberg's comments reframe the post-fight narrative and could influence matchmaking discussions at the top of the division.
- A potential Prochazka rematch is directly challenged, with Ulberg insisting Ankalaev is the rightful next step for the Czech fighter.
- All three men — ranked first, second, and third — are in play, making the light heavyweight picture unusually volatile heading into the next title cycle.
