Ray Longo, trainer of Merab Dvalishvili and Aljamain Sterling, has sharply criticized Jiri Prochazka's post-fight explanations, suggesting mental health issues in MMA need discussion. Longo dismissed Prochazka's mercy claim, saying he simply made a critical error. Carlos Ulberg also rejected Prochazka's narrative, stating fear rather than mercy was the real factor and accusing him of playing to the audience for a rematch opportunity. Ulberg noted Prochazka didn't approach him after their fight and suggested everything Prochazka does is geared toward public reaction. The comments reveal significant skepticism from multiple fighters and coaches regarding Prochazka's post-fight statements. Additionally, Donald Trump reportedly told Paulo Costa after his fight that he is too handsome to be a fighter.
Ray Longo, the respected trainer behind Merab Dvalishvili and Aljamain Sterling, has publicly dismissed Jiri Prochazka's post-fight explanation following his recent loss, and he is not alone in his skepticism. Carlos Ulberg, who fought Prochazka, has also rejected the Czech fighter's narrative outright.
Prochazka, 33, carries a 32-6-1 record and holds the number-two ranking in the light heavyweight division. The Czech Republic native trains out of Jetsaam Gym Brno and brings an aggressive, high-volume style to the octagon, landing 5.69 significant strikes per minute at 55 percent accuracy. After his defeat, Prochazka claimed that mercy played a role in how the fight unfolded, an explanation Longo flatly rejected. The trainer framed the statement as a critical error being dressed up in softer language, and raised broader questions about how mental health narratives are used in MMA.
Ulberg, ranked third in the same division at 35 years old, pushed back even harder. Fighting out of City Kickboxing in New Zealand, the six-foot-four "Black Jag" carries a 15-1-0 record and lands an impressive 6.54 significant strikes per minute. Ulberg stated directly that fear, not mercy, was the genuine reason behind Prochazka's actions in the fight. He also pointed out that Prochazka never approached him afterward, and accused the Czech fighter of shaping his public statements to manufacture a rematch opportunity rather than offering an honest account.
Separately, Donald Trump reportedly told middleweight Paulo Costa following his most recent fight that he is too handsome to be a fighter. Costa, ranked 13th at middleweight, carries a 16-4-0 record and lands 6.26 significant strikes per minute at 58 percent accuracy.
Why it matters
- Prochazka sits at number two in light heavyweight, making any rematch conversation carry genuine divisional weight
- Ulberg, ranked directly behind Prochazka at number three, has a personal stake in how the post-fight narrative shapes title contention
- The credibility dispute between a prominent coaching voice and a ranked contender adds unusual public tension to the light heavyweight picture
