Ray Longo, trainer of Merab Dvalishvili and Aljamain Sterling, suggested MMA needs to address mental health issues, specifically calling out Jiri Prochazka's unusual practices like standing on his head and drinking his own urine. Longo dismissed Prochazka's mercy excuse for his loss as the fighter simply messing up badly. Carlos Ulberg stated that fear, not mercy, caused Prochazka's hesitation and accused him of playing to the audience and making excuses to secure a rematch. Ulberg noted Prochazka did not even congratulate him after the fight and suggested tensions exist at City Kickboxing gym, with Israel Adesanya and Ulberg rarely seen together and not supporting each other's recent fights. Ulberg is dealing with a suspected ACL tear that could sideline him 9-12 months, though he awaits confirmation this week. President Trump reportedly told Costa after his fight that he is too handsome to be a fighter.
Ray Longo, the veteran trainer known for guiding Merab Dvalishvili and Aljamain Sterling, has publicly questioned the mental state of light heavyweight contender Jiri Prochazka, while Carlos Ulberg pushed back hard on the Czech fighter's explanation for his recent loss.
Longo called on MMA to take mental health more seriously, citing Prochazka's well-documented unconventional habits — including standing on his head and reportedly drinking his own urine — as examples of behavior that warrants attention. He also dismissed Prochazka's claim that mercy influenced his hesitation during the fight, describing it plainly as the fighter making a serious mistake and then reaching for an excuse.
Prochazka, 33, carries a 32-6-1 record and is currently ranked second in the light heavyweight division. The six-foot-three Czech fighter out of Jetsaam Gym Brno is one of the more aggressive strikers in the division, averaging 5.69 significant strikes landed per minute at 55 percent accuracy.
Ulberg rejected the mercy narrative entirely, stating that fear was the real reason behind Prochazka's hesitation. He accused Prochazka of playing to the crowd and fabricating a narrative to position himself for a rematch. Ulberg also noted that Prochazka did not congratulate him following the bout, and he raised questions about the atmosphere inside City Kickboxing gym, pointing to an apparent distance between himself and Israel Adesanya, with the two rarely seen together or supporting each other at recent fights.
Adesanya, 36, holds a 24-6-0 record and sits at number eight in the middleweight rankings. The six-foot-four Nigerian-born fighter averages 4.03 significant strikes per minute and has long been the flagship name at City Kickboxing.
Ulberg is now facing a significant layoff after suffering a suspected ACL tear, with an expected recovery timeline of nine to twelve months pending confirmation of the diagnosis.
On a separate note, President Trump reportedly told Paulo Costa following his fight that he was too handsome to be competing in the sport. Costa, 35, owns a 16-4-0 record and lands 6.26 significant strikes per minute at 58 percent accuracy, among the higher output figures in the middleweight division.
Why it matters
- Prochazka's credibility as a rematch contender may hinge on how the "mercy" explanation is received by UFC brass and fans
- Ulberg's potential ACL injury puts his light heavyweight trajectory on hold at a pivotal moment
- Reported tension inside City Kickboxing adds a storyline layer to both Ulberg and Adesanya's near-term futures
