Ray Longo, trainer of Merab Dvalishvili and Aljamain Sterling, criticized Jiri Prochazka's claim that he showed mercy in his loss to Carlos Ulberg, suggesting Prochazka simply made a serious mistake rather than showing compassion. Carlos Ulberg also rejected Prochazka's mercy narrative, stating that fear and hesitation drove Prochazka's actions, not mercy. Ulberg believes Prochazka is playing to the crowd and making excuses to get a rematch, but insists there will be no rematch and that Magomed Ankalaev will defeat Prochazka. Both critics argue that Prochazka's explanation is an attempt to save face after a poor performance. The post also notes potential tension at City Kickboxing gym between Israel Adesanya and Ulberg, as they haven't been seen together and don't acknowledge each other's recent fights.
Ray Longo and Carlos Ulberg have both pushed back hard on Jiri Prochazka's claim that he deliberately showed mercy during his loss to Ulberg, with each dismissing the explanation as little more than face-saving spin.
Longo, the veteran trainer known for working with Merab Dvalishvili and Aljamain Sterling, argued that Prochazka did not show compassion in the fight but simply made a serious mistake. His reading of the exchange strips away any noble framing and places the result squarely in the category of an error in judgment under pressure.
Ulberg, the 35-year-old New Zealander fighting out of City Kickboxing, was even more direct. The number-three ranked light heavyweight, who carries a 15-1 record and produces an eye-catching 6.54 significant strikes per minute, said it was fear and hesitation that governed Prochazka's actions, not mercy. Ulberg added that Prochazka is playing to the crowd and building a narrative designed to justify a rematch. He was clear that no rematch is coming, and went further by predicting that Magomed Ankalaev will defeat Prochazka when they meet.
Prochazka, ranked second at light heavyweight with a 32-6-1 record, is one of the division's most aggressive and high-volume strikers, averaging 5.69 significant strikes per minute with 55 percent accuracy. The Czech fighter's physical tools — six feet three inches tall with an 80-inch reach — make him a handful for anyone in the division, which gives his post-fight framing added scrutiny.
Why it matters
- Ulberg's emphatic rejection of a rematch shapes the immediate title picture at 205 pounds
- Prochazka's divisional ranking and profile mean how this narrative settles could influence matchmaking conversations
- Reported distance between Ulberg and City Kickboxing teammate Israel Adesanya adds an undercurrent of internal tension to an already charged situation, though no formal acknowledgment of a rift has been made
