Ray Longo, coach to Merab Dvalishvili and Aljamain Sterling, strongly criticized Jiri Prochazka's post-fight mercy claims, suggesting mental health concerns in MMA while dismissing the excuse as Prochazka "screwing up badly." Carlos Ulberg stated that fear, not mercy, prevented Prochazka from finishing, calling his explanation "complete nonsense" designed to secure a rematch with Magomed Ankalaev. Ulberg also noted that Prochazka didn't approach him after the fight and questioned the authenticity of his persona. Additionally, Donald Trump reportedly told Paulo Costa after his fight that he's "too handsome to be a fighter." Tensions appear to be rising at City Kickboxing gym between Israel Adesanya and Ulberg, who haven't been seen together recently and no longer publicly support each other's fights.
Ray Longo has added his voice to the growing chorus of criticism directed at Jiri Prochazka following the Czech light heavyweight's post-fight explanation that he chose to spare Magomed Ankalaev out of mercy rather than finish the fight when he had the chance.
Longo, the longtime coach of Merab Dvalishvili and former bantamweight champion Aljamain Sterling, flatly rejected the mercy narrative, characterizing it as Prochazka "screwing up badly" and using the explanation as cover. Longo also raised broader points about mental health awareness in mixed martial arts. Prochazka, now 32-6-1 and ranked second in the light heavyweight division, is a 33-year-old out of Jetsaam Gym Brno who carries one of the most aggressive output rates in the sport, averaging 5.69 significant strikes landed per minute at 55 percent accuracy.
Carlos Ulberg was equally dismissive. The City Kickboxing product called Prochazka's account "complete nonsense," arguing that fear, not compassion, stopped him from securing the finish. Ulberg went further, questioning the authenticity of Prochazka's public persona and noting that Prochazka made no effort to approach him following the bout. Ulberg also cast the mercy story as a calculated move to position Prochazka for a rematch.
Adding a lighter footnote to the weekend's action, Donald Trump reportedly told middleweight Paulo Costa after his fight that he was "too handsome to be a fighter." Costa, ranked 13th at 185 pounds, carries a 16-4 record and leads all middleweights in significant strikes landed per minute at 6.26 with 58 percent accuracy.
Why it matters
- Prochazka's credibility as a contender at 205 pounds may hinge on how convincingly he addresses the mercy controversy
- Ulberg's public skepticism signals a potential flashpoint with Ankalaev's camp over rematch negotiations
- Reported tensions between Ulberg and fellow City Kickboxing member Israel Adesanya, the eighth-ranked middleweight with a 24-6 record, add an internal team dimension to an already complicated picture
