Ray Longo, trainer of Merab Dvalishvili and Aljamain Sterling, criticized Jiri Prochazka's post-fight "mercy" explanation, suggesting it reflects mental health issues and calling it an excuse for a bad performance. Carlos Ulberg stated that Prochazka showed fear, not mercy, and is playing to the audience for a rematch. Ulberg noted that Prochazka did not congratulate him after the fight and that he believes Prochazka's behavior is only designed to generate public reaction. The post also mentions that Donald Trump told Paulo Costa after his fight that he is "too handsome to be a fighter." Additionally, there are reports of tension at City Kickboxing gym between Israel Adesanya and Ulberg, with the two not being seen together recently and not supporting each other's performances. Ulberg may have suffered an ACL tear, with an estimated recovery time of 9-12 months, though he said a definitive answer will come this week.
Ray Longo, the trainer known for working with Merab Dvalishvili and Aljamain Sterling, has publicly challenged Jiri Prochazka's explanation for his recent loss, while Carlos Ulberg directly disputed the Czech fighter's post-fight narrative.
Prochazka, 33, holds a 32-6-1 record and is ranked second in the light heavyweight division. The six-foot-three Czech standout is one of the division's most aggressive strikers, averaging 5.69 significant strikes per minute at a 55 percent accuracy rate. After his most recent defeat, Prochazka offered a "mercy" explanation for his performance, a statement that drew sharp responses from multiple corners of the sport.
Longo rejected that framing outright, describing it as an excuse for a poor showing and suggesting the explanation points to deeper mental health concerns. Ulberg went further, saying Prochazka showed fear rather than mercy and that his behavior after the fight is calculated to generate public sympathy ahead of a potential rematch. Ulberg also noted that Prochazka did not approach him to offer congratulations when the fight concluded.
Why it matters
- Prochazka's rank-two standing in light heavyweight means any rematch conversation carries real divisional weight
- The credibility of Prochazka's post-fight framing could influence how matchmakers and fans view a potential second fight
- Ulberg's own immediate future is now clouded by a reported ACL injury, with recovery estimates running nine to twelve months, pending a confirmed diagnosis this week
Separate from the main dispute, reports have also surfaced of friction within City Kickboxing, with Ulberg and Israel Adesanya — teammates at the Auckland gym — said to have been keeping distance from one another and not publicly supporting each other's performances recently. Adesanya, 36, is currently ranked eighth in the middleweight division with a 24-6 record. The nature or cause of any rift between the two has not been officially addressed.
On a lighter note from the same event, Donald Trump reportedly told Paulo Costa — the hard-hitting Brazilian middleweight ranked thirteenth with a 16-4 record — that he was too handsome to be a fighter.
