Ray Longo, trainer of Merab Dvalishvili and Aljamain Sterling, has raised concerns about mental health in MMA following Jiri Prochazka's loss. Longo referenced Prochazka's unconventional practices like praying to Olympus, standing on his head, and drinking his own urine, suggesting these behaviors are concerning. Carlos Ulberg stated that Prochazka did not show mercy in their fight but was affected by fear, and believes Prochazka is playing to the audience. Ulberg revealed that Prochazka did not congratulate him after the fight and accused him of making excuses to secure a rematch. Ulberg mentioned he may have suffered an ACL tear with a typical recovery time of nine to twelve months, though this is preliminary. Donald Trump reportedly told Paulo Costa after his fight that he is "too beautiful to be a fighter."
Ray Longo, the trainer best known for his work with Merab Dvalishvili and Aljamain Sterling, went public with concerns about mental health in MMA following Jiri Prochazka's recent defeat, while Carlos Ulberg pushed back sharply on Prochazka's explanation for the loss.
Prochazka, a 33-year-old Czech fighter competing at light heavyweight, carries a 32-6-1 record and sits at number two in the divisional rankings. Standing six-foot-three with an 80-inch reach, he is one of the most aggressive strikers in the sport, averaging 5.69 significant strikes per minute at 55 percent accuracy. Longo pointed to Prochazka's well-documented unconventional habits — including praying to Olympus, standing on his head, and reportedly drinking his own urine — as behaviors that raised genuine mental health concerns in his view.
Ulberg, ranked third at light heavyweight, had a direct response to Prochazka's account of their fight. The New Zealand-based City Kickboxing product, who holds a 15-1-0 record, denied that Prochazka showed any mercy during the bout, instead arguing that Prochazka was affected by fear. The 35-year-old, who stands six-foot-four with a 77-inch reach and averages 6.54 significant strikes per minute, also accused Prochazka of making excuses in order to position himself for a rematch. Ulberg further noted that Prochazka did not congratulate him following the fight. On a more sobering note, Ulberg disclosed that he may have sustained an ACL tear, a preliminary finding that would typically carry a nine-to-twelve month recovery timeline.
Why it matters
- Prochazka at number two and Ulberg at number three means their rivalry directly shapes the top of the light heavyweight division
- A potential ACL injury to Ulberg could significantly delay any rematch or his path toward a title shot
- The public back-and-forth over excuses and post-fight conduct adds a personal dimension to an already high-stakes divisional rivalry
Separately, Donald Trump was reported to have told middleweight contender Paulo Costa, who holds a 16-4-0 record and ranks thirteenth at 185 pounds, that he is "too beautiful to be a fighter" following Costa's most recent bout.
