Ray Longo, trainer of Merab Dvalishvili and Aljamain Sterling, has strongly criticized Jiri Prochazka's post-fight explanation about showing "mercy" in his loss to Carlos Ulberg. Longo suggested Prochazka's behavior and excuses raise concerns about mental health in MMA, stating the fighter "just messed up badly." Ulberg himself disputed Prochazka's mercy claim, saying it was fear that affected him, not compassion. Ulberg accused Prochazka of playing to the crowd and noted he didn't even approach him after the fight to show respect. Additionally, Donald Trump reportedly told Paulo Costa after his fight that he is "too handsome to be a fighter." There are also reports of tension at City Kickboxing gym between Israel Adesanya and Ulberg.
Veteran trainer Ray Longo has publicly torn into Jiri Prochazka's post-fight explanation following the Czech light heavyweight's loss to Carlos Ulberg, calling out what he described as damaging and unfounded reasoning from the former champion.
Prochazka, 33, holds a 32-6-1 record and is currently ranked second in the light heavyweight division. Known for one of the most aggressive output rates in the 205-pound class — landing 5.69 significant strikes per minute with 55 percent accuracy — the Czech Republic native trains out of Jetsaam Gym Brno and carries a six-foot-three frame with an 80-inch reach. After the loss to Ulberg, Prochazka publicly suggested he had shown "mercy" during the fight, a claim that drew sharp responses from multiple corners of the MMA world.
Longo, the longtime trainer of Merab Dvalishvili and Aljamain Sterling, rejected that framing bluntly. He suggested that Prochazka's explanation raised broader concerns about mental health awareness in the sport and stated plainly that the fighter had simply performed poorly and should own it.
Ulberg himself was equally dismissive of the mercy narrative. The New Zealand finisher disputed Prochazka's account directly, saying it was fear — not compassion — that affected his opponent during the bout. Ulberg also accused Prochazka of playing to the crowd with the explanation and pointedly noted that Prochazka did not approach him after the fight to show any genuine respect.
Adding another layer to the post-fight fallout, reports have surfaced of tension at City Kickboxing gym between Israel Adesanya and Ulberg. Adesanya, 36, sits eighth in the middleweight rankings with a 24-6-0 record and trains alongside Ulberg at the Auckland-based gym. The nature of any reported friction has not been officially confirmed.
Why it matters
- Prochazka's standing as the number-two ranked light heavyweight makes his post-fight behavior and mental framing a legitimate divisional storyline
- Ulberg's direct rebuttal puts him on a collision course with further scrutiny as he rises in the rankings
- Reported tension between Adesanya and Ulberg at City Kickboxing could have implications for one of MMA's most prominent team environments
