Ray Longo, trainer of Merab Dvalishvili and Aljamain Sterling, questioned Jiri Prochazka's mental state and dismissed his claims of showing mercy in his loss to Carlos Ulberg. Longo suggested that what happened was simply a bad mistake rather than an act of compassion, criticizing Prochazka's unconventional training methods. Ulberg separately stated that Prochazka's mercy narrative was false and motivated by fear, calling it an attempt to secure a rematch. Ulberg noted that Prochazka did not congratulate him after the fight and accused him of playing to the audience. Additionally, Donald Trump reportedly told Paulo Costa after his fight that he is "too handsome to be a fighter." Tensions are reportedly building at City Kickboxing gym between top fighters. Ulberg is dealing with a suspected ACL tear that could sideline him for 9-12 months.
Ray Longo has publicly pushed back on Jiri Prochazka's claim that he showed mercy during his recent loss to Carlos Ulberg, while Ulberg himself has flatly denied the narrative and shut down any suggestion of a rematch.
Longo, best known as the longtime trainer of Merab Dvalishvili and former bantamweight champion Aljamain Sterling, called Prochazka's framing into question, suggesting the Czech fighter's unconventional training approach contributed to a straightforward mistake rather than any deliberate act of compassion. His comments amount to a direct challenge to Prochazka's post-fight explanation.
Prochazka, 33, carries a 32-6-1 record and is ranked second in the light heavyweight division. The six-foot-three Czech Orthodox striker out of Jetsaam Gym Brno is one of the most aggressive volume fighters in the division, averaging 5.69 significant strikes per minute at 55 percent accuracy.
Ulberg, meanwhile, was equally dismissive. The New Zealander, who trains at City Kickboxing, accused Prochazka of fabricating the mercy story out of fear and using it as a platform to angle for a second fight. Ulberg also noted that Prochazka did not congratulate him following the bout, calling the narrative a performance for the crowd. Ulberg holds a 15-1-0 record and sits third in the light heavyweight rankings. The six-foot-four striker averages 6.54 significant strikes per minute, among the higher outputs in the division. Reports also indicate Ulberg is dealing with a suspected ACL tear that could keep him sidelined for nine to twelve months, though this has not been officially confirmed.
Separately, Donald Trump reportedly told middleweight Paulo Costa, ranked 13th at 16-4-0, that he was too handsome to be a fighter following his recent bout. Reports also suggest tensions are building internally at City Kickboxing gym among its top fighters.
Why it matters
- Prochazka's standing as the division's number-two contender makes the narrative around his loss particularly consequential for the light heavyweight title picture
- Ulberg's potential ACL injury, if confirmed, would remove the third-ranked contender from action for the better part of a year
- Internal friction at City Kickboxing, a gym with multiple ranked fighters, could have broader divisional ripple effects
