Ray Longo, trainer of Merab Dvalishvili and Aljamain Sterling, has harshly criticized Jiri Prochazka's post-fight explanation about showing 'mercy,' calling it a mental issue and stating Prochazka 'messed up badly.' Carlos Ulberg also dismissed Prochazka's mercy claims, saying fear was the real issue and accusing him of playing to the public for a rematch opportunity. Ulberg revealed Prochazka didn't approach him after the fight and suggested everything Prochazka does is calculated for public reaction. Additionally, the post mentions Donald Trump telling Paulo Costa he's 'too handsome to be a fighter' after his victory, and notes apparent tension at City Kickboxing gym between Israel Adesanya and Ulberg, with neither supporting each other's recent performances.
Ray Longo and Carlos Ulberg have gone on the record to challenge Jiri Prochazka's post-fight "mercy" narrative, with both men dismissing the Czech fighter's explanation and offering sharply different readings of what actually happened inside the cage.
Longo, the trainer known for working with Merab Dvalishvili and Aljamain Sterling, pulled no punches in his assessment of Prochazka's comments. He called the mercy claim a mental issue and said flatly that Prochazka "messed up badly." For Longo, framing a competitive failure around an act of compassion does not hold up to scrutiny.
Ulberg was equally direct. The light heavyweight contender rejected the mercy explanation outright, arguing that fear was the real driver of Prochazka's in-cage decision-making. Ulberg also accused the Czech fighter of playing to public sentiment in a calculated bid to position himself for a rematch. Notably, Ulberg revealed that Prochazka made no effort to approach him after the fight, adding weight to his claim that Prochazka's public gestures are engineered rather than genuine.
Prochazka, ranked second in the light heavyweight division at 33 years old, carries a 32-6-1 record and is one of the more dynamic strikers in the 205-pound weight class, averaging 5.69 significant strikes per minute at 55 percent accuracy. His performances have always carried a flamboyant edge, which makes the post-fight framing all the more combustible as a talking point.
The story also touches on internal dynamics at City Kickboxing. Apparent tension between Israel Adesanya and Ulberg has surfaced, with neither fighter visibly supporting the other's recent showings. Adesanya, ranked eighth in the middleweight division at 36, holds a 24-6-0 record and has long been the flagship name at that gym.
Why it matters
- Prochazka's standing as a credible title contender at light heavyweight could be affected by how this narrative develops
- Ulberg's willingness to speak critically suggests internal camp relationships are under strain at City Kickboxing
- Whether the mercy story helps or hurts Prochazka's rematch case may depend on how the UFC and fans receive the ongoing criticism
