Ray Longo, trainer of Merab Dvalishvili and Aljamain Sterling, suggested mental health issues in MMA after Jiri Prochazka's claim he showed mercy in his loss to Carlos Ulberg. Longo stated that Prochazka was simply outfought and his mercy excuse was absurd. Carlos Ulberg echoed this sentiment, saying fear and hesitation drove Prochazka's performance, not mercy. Ulberg also noted that Prochazka did not approach him after the fight and accused him of playing to the crowd. Both fighters believe Prochazka's mercy narrative is an attempt to secure a rematch, which Ulberg says will not happen as Magomed Ankalaev will defeat him. Longo's comments also referenced Prochazka's unusual training methods, including standing on his head and drinking his own urine.
Ray Longo and Carlos Ulberg have publicly dismissed Jiri Prochazka's claim that he showed mercy during his defeat at UFC 327 on April 11, with both men calling the narrative self-serving and disconnected from what actually happened inside the cage.
Longo, who trains bantamweight contender Merab Dvalishvili and former champion Aljamain Sterling at Serra-Longo Fight Team, was blunt in his assessment. He stated that Prochazka was simply outfought and that the mercy excuse was absurd. Longo also took aim at Prochazka's unconventional training habits, referencing reports of the Czech fighter standing on his head and drinking his own urine as preparation methods. Prochazka, now 32-6-1 at 33 years old, holds the number-two ranking in the light heavyweight division and carries a 203 cm reach and a striking output of 5.69 significant strikes per minute with 55 percent accuracy.
Ulberg, ranked third at light heavyweight, was equally dismissive. The New Zealand product, who fights out of City Kickboxing, said it was fear and hesitation that defined Prochazka's performance, not any act of compassion. The 35-year-old, now 15-1-0, stands six-foot-four with a striking rate of 6.54 significant strikes per minute, also at 55 percent accuracy. Ulberg added that Prochazka never approached him after the fight and accused the former champion of playing to the crowd rather than engaging honestly with the loss.
Both men suggested Prochazka's mercy narrative is a calculated move to angle for a rematch. Ulberg shut that idea down directly, stating that Magomed Ankalaev will be next to defeat him.
Why it matters
- Prochazka's ranking and profile mean any narrative he pushes carries weight in shaping divisional matchmaking conversations
- Ulberg's win and his rejection of a rematch could accelerate his path toward a title fight
- The public dispute adds friction to an already unsettled light heavyweight picture with multiple contenders in position
Saturday, April 11, 2026
