Ray Longo, coach of Merab Dvalishvili and Aljamain Sterling, has criticized Jiri Prochazka's mental state and post-fight excuse about showing mercy. Longo referenced Prochazka's unconventional practices like praying to Olympus, standing on his head, and drinking his own urine, suggesting mental health concerns in MMA should be discussed. Carlos Ulberg stated that Prochazka did not show mercy but rather was held back by fear, calling Prochazka's explanation 'complete nonsense' and an attempt to secure a rematch. Ulberg also noted that Prochazka did not approach him after the fight and questioned the authenticity of Prochazka's public persona. The post also mentions that Donald Trump told Paulo Costa after his fight that he is 'too beautiful to be a fighter,' and notes apparent tension at City Kickboxing gym between Israel Adesanya and Ulberg, with neither supporting each other's recent performances.
Ray Longo has gone public with sharp criticism of Jiri Prochazka following the Czech fighter's post-fight claim that he showed mercy to his opponent, while Carlos Ulberg dismissed the explanation entirely, saying Prochazka was held back by fear rather than compassion.
Longo, best known as the coach of bantamweight contender Merab Dvalishvili and former champion Aljamain Sterling, took aim at Prochazka's mental framing of the loss. He referenced the light heavyweight's well-documented unconventional habits — including praying to Olympus, standing on his head, and reportedly drinking his own urine — to argue that mental health conversations in MMA deserve more serious attention. His comments amounted to a pointed suggestion that Prochazka's post-fight rationale should not be taken at face value.
Ulberg went further. The light heavyweight contender called Prochazka's mercy narrative "complete nonsense" and framed it as a calculated move to engineer a rematch opportunity. Ulberg also noted that Prochazka did not seek him out after the fight, and questioned whether the persona Prochazka projects publicly reflects who he actually is.
Prochazka, ranked second in the light heavyweight division at 33 years old, carries a 32-6-1 record and is one of the more physically imposing fighters in the weight class at six-foot-three with an 80-inch reach. He averages 5.69 significant strikes per minute and lands them at 55 percent accuracy.
Why it matters
- Prochazka's "mercy" framing is now being actively disputed by his opponent and a high-profile coach, complicating any rematch narrative he may be building.
- Ulberg's comments signal he has no interest in validating Prochazka's version of events, which could shape how the UFC approaches a potential second fight.
- A separate note of tension has emerged at City Kickboxing, where Ulberg and Israel Adesanya — ranked eighth at middleweight with a 24-6-0 record — apparently did not support each other's recent performances, hinting at friction within the gym.
On a lighter note from the same event card, Donald Trump reportedly told Paulo Costa, the 35-year-old Brazilian middleweight, that he was "too beautiful to be a fighter" following his bout.
