Ray Longo, coach of Merab Dvalishvili and Aljamain Sterling, called for discussion about mental health issues in MMA while criticizing Jiri Prochazka's post-fight excuses. Longo dismissed Prochazka's claim of showing mercy, stating the fighter simply made a serious mistake and was left looking lost. Carlos Ulberg also rejected Prochazka's mercy narrative, suggesting it was fear rather than compassion that affected his performance. Ulberg accused Prochazka of playing to the audience and creating excuses to position for a rematch, predicting Magomed Ankalaev will defeat him. Ulberg revealed Prochazka didn't approach him after their fight and suggested tension exists at City Kickboxing gym, noting he and Israel Adesanya haven't been seen together recently and don't support each other's fights. Ulberg potentially suffered an ACL tear with 9-12 month recovery expected, though confirmation is pending this week.
Ray Longo, the coach known for guiding Merab Dvalishvili and Aljamain Sterling, has added his voice to the growing backlash against Jiri Prochazka's post-fight explanation, while light heavyweight contender Carlos Ulberg went further, labeling the narrative as rooted in fear rather than mercy.
Longo used the moment to call for a broader conversation about mental health in MMA, but was direct in his assessment of Prochazka's claim that he showed compassion during his recent loss. In Longo's view, Prochazka simply made a serious mistake and was left looking lost inside the cage — no mercy involved.
Prochazka, the 33-year-old Czech fighter ranked second in the light heavyweight division with a 32-6-1 record, trains out of Jetsaam Gym Brno. He carries an aggressive output, landing 5.69 significant strikes per minute at 55 percent accuracy, making him one of the division's most dangerous offensive weapons. His claimed reasoning for the loss, however, has found few sympathizers.
Ulberg, ranked third at light heavyweight and representing City Kickboxing out of New Zealand, was equally dismissive. The 35-year-old, who carries a 15-1-0 record and an impressive 6.54 significant strikes per minute — among the highest in the division — accused Prochazka of performing for the crowd and manufacturing an excuse to position himself for a rematch. Ulberg predicted Magomed Ankalaev would defeat Prochazka and rejected any suggestion that mercy played a role in the outcome.
Ulberg also disclosed that Prochazka did not speak to him following their own fight, and hinted at simmering tensions within City Kickboxing. He noted that he and teammate Israel Adesanya, the 36-year-old Nigerian middleweight ranked eighth at 24-6-0, have not been seen together lately and have not been supporting each other's fights.
Why it matters
- Prochazka sits second in the light heavyweight rankings, meaning his post-fight narrative directly shapes the division's rematch and title picture
- Ulberg, ranked third, has standing to shape public perception of Prochazka's path back to contention
- Reported tensions at City Kickboxing between Ulberg and Adesanya add an internal team storyline to the wider divisional drama
- Ulberg is awaiting confirmation of a potential ACL tear, with a recovery window of nine to twelve months projected if confirmed
