Ray Longo, coach of Merab Dvalishvili and Aljamain Sterling, suggested that mental health issues in MMA need discussion following Jiri Prochazka's post-fight comments. Longo referenced Prochazka's unconventional practices and called his "mercy" explanation evidence that "this poor guy stood absolutely lost." Carlos Ulberg was more direct, stating Prochazka showed no mercy but rather was stopped by fear. Ulberg accused Prochazka of playing to the public and using the mercy narrative to justify seeking a rematch, which Ulberg believes won't happen as Ankalaev will defeat him. Ulberg also noted Prochazka didn't approach him after the fight and suggested everything Prochazka does is calculated for audience reaction. Additionally, Donald Trump reportedly told Paulo Costa after his fight that "you're too handsome to be a fighter," and tensions appear to be rising at City Kickboxing gym between Israel Adesanya and Ulberg, who haven't been seen together recently and ignore each other's performances.
Ray Longo has weighed in on Jiri Prochazka's widely discussed post-fight comments, suggesting the light heavyweight contender's remarks deserve to be examined through a mental health lens, while Carlos Ulberg offered a far blunter reading of events.
Longo, the veteran coach known for guiding Merab Dvalishvili and Aljamain Sterling, pointed to Prochazka's unconventional training methods and lifestyle as broader context, characterizing the Czech fighter as someone who "stood absolutely lost" in the moments after the bout. His framing was sympathetic, arguing the sport needs to talk more openly about mental health.
Prochazka, 33, carries a 32-6-1 record and sits ranked second in the light heavyweight division. The six-foot-three orthodox fighter out of Jetsaam Gym Brno is one of the most aggressive strikers in the sport, landing 5.69 significant strikes per minute at a 55 percent accuracy rate. His explanation that he stopped his opponent out of "mercy" rather than being halted by the referee has generated significant controversy.
Ulberg was dismissive of that framing. The City Kickboxing product argued Prochazka showed no mercy and was instead stopped by fear, accusing him of crafting a public narrative to justify pursuing a rematch. Ulberg said he does not believe that rematch will materialize, predicting Magomed Ankalaev will handle Prochazka if they meet. Ulberg also noted that Prochazka did not seek him out after the fight and suggested his actions are consistently performed for audience reaction rather than genuine expression.
Separately, a notable moment was reported involving Paulo Costa after his most recent outing. Donald Trump reportedly told the Brazilian middleweight, ranked 13th in the division, that he was "too handsome to be a fighter." Costa, 35, owns a 16-4-0 record and produces an eye-catching 6.26 significant strikes per minute at 58 percent accuracy.
Why it matters
- Ulberg's public dismissal of Prochazka's mercy narrative directly challenges the Czech fighter's credibility ahead of any potential rematch campaign
- Reported tension between Ulberg and Israel Adesanya at City Kickboxing could signal a fracture inside one of MMA's most prominent training camps
- Adesanya, 36 and ranked eighth at middleweight with a 24-6-0 record, and Ulberg reportedly no longer acknowledge each other's results, raising questions about the gym's internal dynamics
