Ray Longo, trainer for Merab Dvalishvili and Aljamain Sterling, addressed mental health in MMA while criticizing Jiri Prochazka's post-fight explanation. Longo suggested that while Prochazka's unconventional methods like praying to Olympus and standing on his head are entertaining, his claim about showing 'mercy' was simply an excuse for losing. Carlos Ulberg echoed these sentiments, stating that Prochazka's actions were driven by fear rather than mercy, and that he is playing to the audience. Ulberg noted that Prochazka did not approach him after the fight and accused him of creating narratives to secure a rematch. Additionally, Donald Trump reportedly told Paulo Costa after his fight that he is 'too handsome to be a fighter.'
Ray Longo, the trainer known for his work with Merab Dvalishvili and Aljamain Sterling, has publicly dismissed Jiri Prochazka's post-fight "mercy" explanation, calling it an excuse for losing. Carlos Ulberg, who defeated Prochazka in the fight in question, backed Longo's assessment with sharper words of his own.
Longo addressed the broader topic of mental health in MMA while making his point, acknowledging that Prochazka's unconventional habits — including praying to Olympus and standing on his head — are entertaining. But he drew a firm line at the Czech fighter's claim that he showed mercy to his opponent, framing it as a losing fighter reaching for a narrative rather than accepting a result.
Prochazka, ranked second in the light heavyweight division at 33 years old, carries a 32-6-1 record and has built a reputation as one of the division's most unorthodox and dangerous strikers, averaging 5.69 significant strikes per minute at 55 percent accuracy.
Ulberg, ranked third in the same division, was direct in his rebuttal. The 35-year-old New Zealander from City Kickboxing said Prochazka's behavior was rooted in fear rather than generosity, and accused him of performing for the crowd. Ulberg also noted that Prochazka did not approach him after the fight, calling into question the sincerity of any mercy narrative and suggesting the whole framing was designed to engineer a rematch. Ulberg holds a 15-1-0 record and lands 6.54 significant strikes per minute, making him one of the more active offensive fighters in the 205-pound weight class.
Why it matters
- The back-and-forth keeps the Prochazka-Ulberg rivalry in the spotlight and could influence light heavyweight title contender positioning.
- Ulberg at number three and Prochazka at number two means the stakes of any rematch carry genuine divisional weight.
- Longo's involvement signals the discourse around fighter psychology and post-fight explanations is drawing attention beyond the fighters themselves.
Separately, Donald Trump reportedly told middleweight Paulo Costa — who holds a 16-4-0 record and ranks thirteenth in his division — that he is "too handsome to be a fighter" following Costa's most recent bout.
