Ray Longo, trainer of Merab Dvalishvili and Aljamain Sterling, raised concerns about mental health issues in MMA following Jiri Prochazka's loss. Longo criticized Prochazka's unconventional methods like praying to Olympus, standing on his head, and drinking his own urine, suggesting the fighter was lost after the fight claiming he showed "mercy." Carlos Ulberg stated that Prochazka didn't show mercy but was stopped by fear, accusing him of playing to the public for a rematch opportunity. Ulberg noted Prochazka didn't congratulate him after the fight and that everything Prochazka does seems aimed at getting reactions. The post also mentions Trump told Costa he's "too handsome to be a fighter" after his win.
Ray Longo, the trainer known for guiding Merab Dvalishvili and Aljamain Sterling, went public with sharp criticism of Jiri Prochazka following the Czech light heavyweight's recent loss, while Carlos Ulberg fired back at Prochazka's post-fight claim that he had shown his opponent mercy.
Prochazka, 33, carries a 32-6-1 record and is ranked second in the light heavyweight division. The six-foot-three Czech fighter out of Jetsaam Gym Brno has built a reputation for unorthodox habits and showmanship alongside genuine elite-level ability — he lands 5.69 significant strikes per minute at 55 percent accuracy. It is that unconventional persona that drew Longo's concern. The veteran trainer publicly questioned Prochazka's mental wellbeing, citing reported behaviors including praying to Olympus, standing on his head, and drinking his own urine, and suggested Prochazka was deflecting from a defeat by claiming he had chosen not to finish the fight.
Ulberg, ranked third at light heavyweight, was direct in rejecting that narrative. The New Zealand-based City Kickboxing product, who stands six-foot-four with a 77-inch reach and holds a 15-1 record, said it was not mercy but fear that stopped Prochazka. Ulberg, who averages an eye-catching 6.54 significant strikes per minute, also noted that Prochazka did not congratulate him after the fight and accused him of engineering public moments to manufacture a rematch opportunity.
In a lighter aside connected to the same news cycle, Paulo Costa received some unusual praise. The Brazilian middleweight, ranked 13th at 185 pounds with a 16-4 record, was reportedly told by Donald Trump following his recent win that he was "too handsome to be a fighter."
Why it matters
- Prochazka's rematch campaign is complicated by questions about his post-fight credibility and public perception
- Ulberg's rebuttal, coming from the number-three ranked contender, puts him in a stronger position in any divisional conversation
- The friction between the two fighters adds a genuine edge to any potential future booking at light heavyweight
