Ray Longo, trainer of Merab Dvalishvili and Aljamain Sterling, suggested mental health issues in MMA should be discussed, referencing Jiri Prochazka's unusual training methods and post-fight statements about showing mercy. Longo stated Prochazka looked completely lost claiming he showed mercy when he simply made a serious mistake. Carlos Ulberg dismissed Prochazka's mercy explanation, saying fear was the real issue and that Prochazka is playing to the audience to get a rematch, which Ulberg believes won't happen. Ulberg also criticized Prochazka for not approaching him after the fight. Separately, Donald Trump told Paulo Costa after his fight that he's too handsome to be a fighter. Reports suggest tension at City Kickboxing gym between Israel Adesanya and Ulberg, with neither supporting each other's recent performances. Ulberg is suspected to have a torn ACL with 9-12 months recovery time, though this is preliminary.
Ray Longo, the trainer behind champions Merab Dvalishvili and Aljamain Sterling, used Jiri Prochazka's recent post-fight statements as a springboard to call for broader conversation about mental health in mixed martial arts, while light heavyweight contender Carlos Ulberg sharply rejected Prochazka's claim that he showed mercy in their bout.
Longo stated that Prochazka looked completely lost when he suggested he had shown mercy, characterizing the moment instead as a serious mistake on the Czech fighter's part. The 33-year-old Prochazka, ranked second in the light heavyweight division with a career record of 32-6-1, is known for an unconventional and intense approach to training. The six-foot-three orthodox striker from Brno lands an impressive 5.69 significant strikes per minute at 55 percent accuracy, making any lapse in judgment inside the cage a notable talking point.
Ulberg pushed back even harder, saying fear — not mercy — was the real factor in Prochazka's performance. The New Zealander also accused Prochazka of playing to the audience in hopes of securing a rematch, adding that Prochazka failed to approach him after the fight. Ulberg further stated he does not believe that rematch will materialize. Separately, reports indicate growing tension between Ulberg and City Kickboxing teammate Israel Adesanya, with neither man said to have supported the other's recent outings. Adesanya, the 36-year-old Nigerian middleweight ranked eighth at 24-6-0, trains alongside Ulberg at the Auckland-based gym. Early indications suggest Ulberg may have suffered a torn ACL, with a preliminary recovery window of nine to twelve months, though that has not been officially confirmed.
On a lighter note, Donald Trump reportedly told middleweight Paulo Costa after his fight that he is too handsome to be a fighter. The Brazilian, ranked thirteenth at middleweight with a record of 16-4-0, averages a division-leading 6.26 significant strikes per minute at 58 percent accuracy.
Why it matters
- Prochazka's path to another title shot could hinge on how the post-fight narrative surrounding the mercy claim develops
- Reported friction between Adesanya and Ulberg raises questions about the internal dynamics at one of MMA's highest-profile gyms
- A torn ACL, if confirmed, would sideline Ulberg for the better part of a year and remove him from the light heavyweight contender picture
