Ray Longo, trainer of Merab Dvalishvili and Aljamain Sterling, has harshly criticized Jiri Prochazka's post-fight commentary and mental approach to fighting. Longo suggested that while Prochazka's unconventional methods like standing on his head and drinking his own urine might be entertaining, they lead to problems. He specifically mocked Prochazka's claim that he showed "mercy" in his recent loss, saying the fighter was simply badly beaten and stood there looking lost. Longo stated that Prochazka "screwed up badly" rather than showing any compassion, and characterized the mercy claim as an excuse-making performance for the audience. He also suggested this narrative was an attempt to secure a rematch opportunity.
Ray Longo, the veteran trainer behind Serra-Longo Fight Team stalwarts Merab Dvalishvili and Aljamain Sterling, went on the offensive against light heavyweight contender Jiri Prochazka, sharply criticizing the Czech fighter's post-fight mindset and his explanation of a recent defeat.
Longo's central target was Prochazka's claim that he showed "mercy" during the fight he lost, a framing Longo flatly rejected. The Serra-Longo coach said Prochazka was not extending compassion to an opponent but was instead badly beaten and standing in the cage looking lost. He described the performance as "screwing up badly" and characterized the mercy narrative as excuse-making dressed up for an audience, adding that the story was likely engineered to position Prochazka for a rematch.
Longo also took aim at some of Prochazka's more unconventional training philosophies, including standing on his head and reportedly drinking his own urine, allowing that the habits might be entertaining while arguing they contribute to problems inside the octagon.
Prochazka, 33, carries a 32-6-1 record and is currently ranked second in the light heavyweight division. The six-foot-three Czech fighter, who trains out of Jetsaam Gym Brno, lands 5.69 significant strikes per minute at a 55 percent accuracy rate and owns an 80-inch reach, making him one of the more physically imposing and offensively active fighters in the division.
Dvalishvili, whose own elite-level performances likely lend credibility to Longo's platform, sits at 21-5 and is ranked first in bantamweight and second pound-for-pound, averaging a remarkable 6.4 takedowns per 15 minutes. Sterling, now competing at featherweight where he is ranked fourth, holds a 26-5 record and brings 0.6 submission attempts per 15 minutes to his fights.
Why it matters
- Prochazka's post-fight framing directly affects his standing in the rematch conversation at light heavyweight
- Longo's criticism, coming from a coach with two elite-ranked fighters, carries weight in shaping the public narrative
- The exchange highlights a broader tension between unconventional fighter mentalities and traditional coaching perspectives
