Ray Longo, trainer of Merab Dvalishvili and Aljamain Sterling, strongly criticized Jiri Prochazka's post-fight explanation about showing 'mercy' in his loss. Longo suggested Prochazka's eccentric behavior like standing on his head and drinking his own urine raises mental health concerns, and that Prochazka 'messed up badly' rather than showing compassion. Carlos Ulberg also rejected Prochazka's mercy explanation, claiming fear was the real issue and that Prochazka is 'playing to the audience.' Ulberg noted Prochazka didn't approach him after the fight and believes the excuse was meant to secure a rematch. Ulberg stated he respects opponents but takes issue with Prochazka's justifications. The post also mentions Trump told Costa 'you're too handsome to be a fighter' after his bout.
Ray Longo, the trainer behind Merab Dvalishvili and Aljamain Sterling, has publicly torn apart Jiri Prochazka's post-fight claim that he showed "mercy" in his recent loss, and light heavyweight contender Carlos Ulberg has added his own sharp rebuttal to the Czech fighter's explanation.
Longo went beyond simply disputing the mercy narrative, pointing to Prochazka's well-documented unconventional habits — including standing on his head and reportedly drinking his own urine — as potential signs of deeper mental health concerns. In Longo's view, Prochazka did not show compassion; he simply "messed up badly."
Prochazka, 33, carries a 32-6-1 record and is ranked second in the UFC light heavyweight division. The six-foot-three Czech fighter out of Jetsaam Gym Brno is one of the more explosive strikers in the weight class, landing 5.69 significant strikes per minute at 55 percent accuracy across his career.
Ulberg, ranked one spot below Prochazka at number three, was equally dismissive. The New Zealander said fear — not mercy — was the real motivator, and accused Prochazka of "playing to the audience." Ulberg also noted that Prochazka never approached him after the fight concluded, and suggested the mercy framing was a calculated move to engineer a rematch opportunity. Despite his criticism of the excuse, Ulberg said he holds genuine respect for his opponents.
Ulberg, also 35, trains out of the renowned City Kickboxing gym and holds a 15-1-0 record. Standing six-foot-four with a 77-inch reach, he lands an impressive 6.54 significant strikes per minute, making him one of the division's most active offensive fighters.
Separately, middleweight Paulo Costa found himself in an unusual spotlight after his bout, with reports indicating that Donald Trump told the Brazilian fighter he was "too handsome to be a fighter."
Why it matters
- Prochazka's public credibility takes a hit from two separate corners following his loss
- Ulberg's rejection of a rematch narrative could shape the division's next matchmaking cycle
- At ranked second and third in light heavyweight, the bad blood between Prochazka and Ulberg carries genuine title-picture implications
