Ray Longo, trainer of Merab Dvalishvili and Aljamain Sterling, criticized Jiri Prochazka's mental approach to fighting, calling out his unusual practices like praying to Olympus, standing on his head, and drinking his own urine. Longo stated Prochazka was "completely lost" after his defeat, claiming mercy when he simply made a major mistake. Carlos Ulberg also dismissed Prochazka's mercy claims, saying fear was the real issue and that Prochazka was playing to the crowd for a rematch opportunity. Ulberg noted Prochazka didn't congratulate him after the fight and suggested everything Prochazka does is designed for public reaction. There are also reports of tension at City Kickboxing gym between Israel Adesanya and Ulberg, with the two ignoring each other's recent performances. Additionally, Ulberg may have suffered an ACL tear with an estimated 9-12 month recovery time, though confirmation is pending this week.
Ray Longo, the trainer behind Merab Dvalishvili and Aljamain Sterling, has gone on the offensive against Jiri Prochazka, questioning the Czech light heavyweight contender's mental approach and dismissing his post-fight narrative. Longo called out Prochazka's well-documented unconventional habits — including praying to Olympus, standing on his head, and reportedly drinking his own urine — and declared the 33-year-old was "completely lost" following his recent defeat. According to Longo, Prochazka made a significant mistake in the fight and then reframed it as an act of mercy rather than accepting responsibility for the error.
Prochazka, ranked second in the light heavyweight division, carries a 32-6-1 record and is one of the more statistically aggressive strikers in the UFC, averaging 5.69 significant strikes landed per minute at 55 percent accuracy. The six-foot-three Czech fighter out of Jetsaam Gym Brno has long cultivated a warrior-philosopher public persona, which is precisely what Longo appears to be targeting.
Carlos Ulberg, the man who handed Prochazka that defeat, has also pushed back firmly on the mercy narrative. The 35-year-old New Zealander out of City Kickboxing — ranked third at light heavyweight with a 15-1-0 record — said fear, not compassion, was the genuine factor and accused Prochazka of performing for the crowd to manufacture a rematch opportunity. Ulberg also noted that Prochazka did not congratulate him after the bout, suggesting every public gesture from Prochazka is calculated for audience reaction. Ulberg himself averages an eye-catching 6.54 significant strikes per minute at 55 percent accuracy across his career.
Separately, reports have emerged of friction inside City Kickboxing between Ulberg and teammate Israel Adesanya, with the two said to be disregarding each other's recent performances. Adesanya, the 36-year-old Nigerian-born middleweight ranked eighth in his division at 24-6-0, trains alongside Ulberg at the Auckland gym.
Why it matters
- Prochazka's public framing of the loss could affect his standing in any rematch negotiations with Ulberg
- Ulberg's position as the third-ranked light heavyweight puts divisional title implications in play
- A reported ACL injury to Ulberg, with an estimated nine-to-twelve month recovery, remains unconfirmed and could significantly reshape the division's near-term picture
- Tension between Ulberg and Adesanya adds an internal dynamic to City Kickboxing's future fight planning
