Carlos Ulberg has rejected the possibility of a rematch with Jiri Prochazka. Ulberg stated that Prochazka did not even come to congratulate him after their fight, despite Ulberg's usual practice of showing respect to opponents. He suggested Prochazka's behavior seemed like playing to the public. Ulberg criticized the narrative around "mercy" in the fight, saying it has clouded what could have been a better story. He believes the entire situation with Prochazka's mercy claims has tainted the fight's legacy.
Carlos Ulberg has publicly shut down any talk of a rematch with Jiri Prochazka, citing a lack of post-fight respect from the Czech fighter as the primary reason for his stance.
Ulberg, known as "Black Jag," improved to 15-1-0 with the victory over Prochazka and now sits third in the UFC light heavyweight rankings. The 35-year-old New Zealander, who trains out of City Kickboxing, is one of the division's more active strikers, landing 6.54 significant strikes per minute at 55 percent accuracy. He noted that it is his custom to show respect to opponents after a fight — a gesture he says Prochazka never extended to him.
Prochazka, ranked second in the division at 32-6-1, is a former champion out of Jetsaam Gym Brno in the Czech Republic. The 33-year-old carries an imposing striking profile of his own, averaging 5.69 significant strikes per minute, and his six-foot-three, 203 cm reach frame makes him a dangerous presence in any light heavyweight contest. Following the loss, Prochazka drew attention for publicly claiming he showed Ulberg mercy during the fight — a narrative Ulberg has firmly rejected.
Ulberg argued that the mercy narrative has distorted what he believes could have been a cleaner story about his win, and he characterized Prochazka's post-fight behavior as performative rather than genuine. He has made clear he has no interest in revisiting the matchup.
Why it matters
- Ulberg's refusal closes off a natural rematch at a pivotal moment in the light heavyweight division
- Prochazka's ranking at number two means any friction between the two fighters has direct implications for title contention
- The dispute over the mercy narrative complicates both fighters' positioning heading into their next matchups
- Ulberg's willingness to publicly criticize Prochazka signals he is pushing for recognition as a legitimate top-tier contender
