Carlos Ulberg rejected Jiri Prochazka's claim that mercy cost him their fight, stating that fear was the real issue and calling it an excuse to get a rematch. Ulberg criticized Prochazka for not approaching him after the fight and suggested his opponent only plays to the crowd. Ray Longo, coach to Merab Dvalishvili and Aljamain Sterling, commented on mental health in MMA in reference to Prochazka's loss. Tension is reportedly brewing at City Kickboxing gym between top fighters, with Israel Adesanya and Ulberg not seen together recently and ignoring each other's performances. Ulberg's suspected injury is an ACL tear with typical recovery time of 9-12 months, though he stated definitive answers would come this week. Donald Trump reportedly told Paulo Costa after the fight that he was "too beautiful to be a fighter."
Carlos Ulberg has pushed back hard on Jiri Prochazka's post-fight narrative, flatly rejecting the Czech contender's claim that mercy played any role in their bout and framing the assertion as little more than a manufactured excuse to chase a rematch.
Ulberg stated that fear, not compassion, was the deciding factor, dismissing Prochazka's explanation outright. He also took aim at his opponent's conduct after the final horn, noting that Prochazka made no effort to approach him and suggesting the Czech fighter's gestures were performed for the crowd rather than out of genuine sportsmanship.
Prochazka, 33, carries a record of 32-6-1 and is ranked second in the light heavyweight division. Fighting out of Jetsaam Gym Brno, the six-foot-three Czech Republic native is one of the more aggressive strikers in the weight class, averaging 5.69 significant strikes per minute at a 55 percent accuracy rate. His striking output makes him a perpetual highlight-reel threat, which lends weight to the idea that any loss will attract scrutiny over its circumstances.
Separate from the post-fight back-and-forth, tension is reportedly building inside City Kickboxing. Ulberg and Israel Adesanya, longtime teammates, have reportedly not been seen together in recent weeks and are said to be ignoring each other's performances. Adesanya, 36, holds a 24-6-0 record and is currently ranked eighth at middleweight, fighting out of the same Auckland gym. Whether the reported distance between the two reflects a deeper rift remains unclear.
Adding a lighter footnote to the week's storylines, Donald Trump reportedly told Paulo Costa following his fight that he was "too beautiful to be a fighter." Costa, 35, holds a 16-4-0 record and is ranked thirteenth at middleweight, bringing one of the sport's most aggressive pressure styles at 6.26 significant strikes landed per minute.
Why it matters
- Prochazka's ranking and rematch push could shape the light heavyweight title picture heading into the second half of 2026
- Reported friction at City Kickboxing raises questions about team cohesion for one of MMA's most prominent gyms
- Ulberg's suspected ACL tear, with a typical recovery window of nine to twelve months, may delay any follow-up booking significantly
