Ray Longo, trainer of Merab Dvalishvili and Aljamain Sterling, criticized Jiri Prochazka's claim of showing mercy in his recent loss, calling it a mental health issue in MMA and saying Prochazka "just messed up badly." Carlos Ulberg stated that Prochazka's mercy claim was nonsense, attributing the loss to fear instead, and accused him of playing to the audience. Ulberg noted that Prochazka didn't approach him after their fight and suggested everything Prochazka does is aimed at getting reactions from people. The post also mentions that Donald Trump told Paulo Costa he's "too handsome to be a fighter" after his bout. Additionally, there appears to be tension at City Kickboxing gym between Israel Adesanya and Ulberg, with neither supporting each other's recent performances.
Ray Longo and Carlos Ulberg have both publicly dismissed Jiri Prochazka's claim that he showed mercy during his recent loss, with sharp words directed at the Czech light heavyweight contender.
Longo, the veteran trainer known for his work with Merab Dvalishvili and Aljamain Sterling, was blunt in his assessment. He characterized the mercy narrative as a mental health issue within MMA culture and stated plainly that Prochazka simply made serious mistakes in the fight. Prochazka, 33, carries a 32-6-1 record and holds the number-two ranking in the light heavyweight division. The six-foot-three Czech fighter out of Jetsaam Gym Brno is one of the sport's most aggressive strikers, landing 5.69 significant strikes per minute at 55 percent accuracy, but Longo clearly believes the recent defeat had nothing to do with restraint.
Ulberg was equally dismissive, going further by attributing the loss to fear rather than compassion. The New Zealand fighter said Prochazka never approached him after their bout and suggested that everything Prochazka does is calculated to generate a reaction from the audience. Ulberg accused him outright of playing to the crowd rather than offering any genuine explanation.
Adding an unusual footnote to the weekend's news, Donald Trump reportedly told Paulo Costa he was too handsome to be a fighter following Costa's recent bout. Costa, 35, holds a 16-4-0 record and ranks thirteenth at middleweight, known for his pressure-heavy style and a striking accuracy of 58 percent.
Why it matters
- Prochazka sits ranked second at light heavyweight, so how he frames this loss carries real weight in the divisional narrative
- The Ulberg criticism carries extra tension given reported friction between Ulberg and Israel Adesanya inside City Kickboxing, with neither man said to have supported the other's recent outings
- Adesanya, ranked eighth at middleweight at 36 years old, and Ulberg share a gym, making any internal rift a story worth watching as both look to rebuild
