Carlos Ulberg has dismissed Jiri Prochazka's claims of showing mercy during their bout, arguing instead that fear prevented the Czech fighter from finishing him. Ulberg believes Prochazka is playing to the crowd and that people who watch interviews are being misled by his narrative. The New Zealand fighter stated that Prochazka's "mercy" story is just an excuse to secure a rematch, adding that Magomed Ankalaev will "smear" Prochazka in any future matchup. Ulberg noted that Prochazka did not approach him after the fight to show respect, which he found telling. Meanwhile, trainer Ray Longo has called for discussions about mental health in MMA, referencing Prochazka's unusual pre-fight rituals and his "lost" state after the loss. Additionally, reports suggest tension at City Kickboxing gym between Israel Adesanya and Ulberg, with the two no longer appearing together and ignoring each other's recent performances. Ulberg is suspected to have suffered an ACL tear with a recovery time of 9-12 months, though he stated that official confirmation will come this week.
Carlos Ulberg has gone on the offensive against Jiri Prochazka's post-fight narrative, flatly rejecting the Czech fighter's claim that he showed mercy during their light heavyweight bout and offering a starkly different interpretation of events.
Ulberg, who carries a 15-1-0 record and sits ranked third in the light heavyweight division, argued that it was fear — not compassion — that stopped Prochazka from securing a finish. The 35-year-old New Zealander, who trains out of City Kickboxing and lands an impressive 6.54 significant strikes per minute at 55 percent accuracy, said Prochazka is deliberately shaping a false narrative to manufacture a path to a rematch. Ulberg also pointed to Prochazka's failure to approach him after the fight as evidence that the talk of mercy rings hollow.
Prochazka, the second-ranked light heavyweight at 33 years old, is one of the division's most dynamic strikers, averaging 5.69 significant strikes per minute at 55 percent accuracy across his 32-6-1 career. His unconventional pre-fight rituals and his demeanor following the loss drew additional commentary from trainer Ray Longo, who used the moment to call for a broader conversation around mental health in MMA.
Ulberg went further, predicting that Magomed Ankalaev would overwhelm Prochazka in any potential future matchup, framing Prochazka's mercy story as little more than a public-relations exercise aimed at securing favorable positioning.
Adding another layer of complexity, reports have surfaced of friction inside City Kickboxing between Ulberg and teammate Israel Adesanya, the 36-year-old middleweight ranked eighth at 24-6-0, with the two men said to be avoiding each other and no longer publicly acknowledging one another's performances.
Ulberg is also believed to have suffered an ACL tear that could sideline him for nine to twelve months, though he indicated that official medical confirmation was expected imminently.
Why it matters
- Ulberg's counter-narrative directly challenges Prochazka's standing and rematch leverage in a deep light heavyweight division
- Reported gym tension at City Kickboxing between two of its most prominent fighters adds uncertainty to both men's immediate futures
- A potential nine-to-twelve month absence would significantly delay Ulberg's push from the third-ranked position toward a title shot
