Ray Longo, coach of Merab Dvalishvili and Aljamain Sterling, criticized Jiri Prochazka's mental state and post-fight excuses after his loss to Carlos Ulberg. Longo suggested the MMA community needs to address mental health issues, referencing Prochazka's unusual rituals and his claim of showing 'mercy' in the fight. Carlos Ulberg also rejected Prochazka's mercy explanation, stating that fear, not compassion, caused Prochazka's hesitation. Ulberg added that Prochazka did not approach him after the fight and believes he manufactures storylines for public reaction. There are also reports of tension at City Kickboxing gym between Ulberg and Israel Adesanya, with the two not being seen together recently and not supporting each other's recent performances.
Ray Longo, the veteran coach behind Merab Dvalishvili and Aljamain Sterling, has publicly criticized Jiri Prochazka's mindset and post-fight behavior following the Czech fighter's loss to Carlos Ulberg, suggesting the MMA community needs to take a harder look at mental health issues in the sport.
Prochazka, 33, carries a 32-6-1 record and is currently ranked second in the light heavyweight division. The six-foot-three Czech Republic native trains out of Jetsaam Gym Brno and is one of the division's most aggressive offensive forces, averaging 5.69 significant strikes per minute at 55 percent accuracy. Longo's comments took aim at what he described as Prochazka's unusual rituals and, specifically, Prochazka's claim that he showed "mercy" during the fight rather than acknowledging a clean defeat.
Ulberg, 35, was having none of it. The New Zealander, who fights out of City Kickboxing and holds a 15-1-0 record and the number-three light heavyweight ranking, flatly rejected the mercy narrative. Ulberg stated that fear, not compassion, caused Prochazka's hesitation in the fight. He also noted that Prochazka did not approach him afterward and accused the former champion of manufacturing storylines for public attention. At six-foot-four with a 77-inch reach, Ulberg is among the division's most productive strikers, landing 6.54 significant strikes per minute at 55 percent accuracy.
Adding another layer to the story are reports of tension within City Kickboxing between Ulberg and teammate Israel Adesanya. The two have not been seen together recently and have reportedly not been publicly supporting each other's performances. Adesanya, 36, holds a 24-6-0 record and is ranked eighth in the middleweight division.
Why it matters
- Prochazka's mental state and public statements could factor into his path back toward a light heavyweight title shot from the number-two ranking
- Ulberg's victory and his forceful rebuttal strengthen his case as a genuine divisional threat at number three
- Reported friction inside City Kickboxing between Ulberg and Adesanya adds an internal dynamic worth monitoring for both camps
