Ray Longo, trainer of Merab Dvalishvili and Aljamain Sterling, has called for discussion about mental health issues in MMA after Jiri Prochazka's recent performance and post-fight explanations. Longo dismissed Prochazka's claim that he showed mercy, saying the fighter simply made critical mistakes and was left looking lost. Carlos Ulberg, who recently defeated Prochazka, stated that fear—not mercy—was the real issue affecting Prochazka's performance. Ulberg accused Prochazka of making excuses to secure a rematch and criticized him for not approaching Ulberg after the fight. Ulberg also noted tensions at City Kickboxing gym, where he and Israel Adesanya reportedly no longer interact or support each other's fights. Additionally, Ulberg is suspected to have suffered an ACL tear, with an expected recovery time of nine to twelve months pending confirmation this week.
Veteran trainer Ray Longo has publicly dismissed Jiri Prochazka's post-fight explanations following the Czech fighter's loss to Carlos Ulberg, while Ulberg himself has pushed back sharply on Prochazka's account of events.
Longo, best known for his work with Merab Dvalishvili and Aljamain Sterling, used the situation to call for a broader conversation about mental health in MMA. He was direct in his assessment of Prochazka's claim that he showed mercy during the fight, arguing the former champion simply made critical mistakes and looked lost inside the cage rather than exercising any deliberate restraint.
Ulberg, the New Zealander who improved to 15-1-0 with the victory, was equally blunt. The ranked third light heavyweight said fear — not mercy — was what actually affected Prochazka's performance, and accused him of manufacturing an excuse to leverage a rematch. Ulberg also criticized Prochazka for not approaching him after the contest ended. At 35 years old and standing six-foot-four with a 77-inch reach, Ulberg has built one of the division's more dangerous striking profiles, averaging 6.54 significant strikes landed per minute at 55 percent accuracy.
Prochazka, the 33-year-old Czech fighter ranked second at light heavyweight with a 32-6-1 record, brings a naturally aggressive style of his own — averaging 5.69 significant strikes per minute — which makes the circumstances of his loss and the subsequent explanations all the more striking to outside observers.
Ulberg also addressed reported tensions within City Kickboxing gym, stating that he and Israel Adesanya no longer interact or support each other during fights. Adesanya, the 36-year-old Nigerian middleweight ranked eighth in his division, trains alongside Ulberg at the Auckland-based gym.
Why it matters
- Prochazka's rematch prospects may hinge on how the UFC weighs his ranking and post-fight narrative against Ulberg's convincing victory
- A potential ACL tear for Ulberg, with nine to twelve months of recovery expected pending confirmation, could significantly delay his push toward a title shot
- The reported breakdown in the City Kickboxing camp dynamic adds an unusual off-cage dimension to the careers of both Ulberg and Adesanya
