Ray Longo, coach to Merab Dvalishvili and Aljamain Sterling, criticized Jiri Prochazka's mental approach and post-fight explanations. Longo suggested that while Prochazka's unconventional methods like praying to Olympus and standing on his head are entertaining, they lead to problems in fights. He specifically dismissed Prochazka's claim of showing mercy, stating the fighter was simply lost and made excuses. Carlos Ulberg also weighed in, arguing that Prochazka's mercy claim was false and that fear was actually the issue. Ulberg accused Prochazka of playing to the audience and creating excuses to secure a rematch with Ankalaev, while noting Prochazka didn't approach him after their fight. Ulberg also mentioned Donald Trump told Paulo Costa he was "too beautiful to be a fighter" after their bout. Additionally, there are reports of tension at City Kickboxing between Israel Adesanya and Ulberg, with the two not being seen together recently.
Ray Longo and Carlos Ulberg have publicly challenged Jiri Prochazka's post-fight narrative, dismissing the Czech light heavyweight's claim that he showed mercy in his most recent loss and suggesting the real explanation is far less flattering.
Longo, the longtime coach of Merab Dvalishvili and Aljamain Sterling, directed sharp criticism at Prochazka's mental preparation and his habit of explaining away defeats. While Longo acknowledged that the 33-year-old's unconventional rituals — including praying to Olympus and standing on his head — make for entertaining content, he argued those same approaches create real problems inside the cage. Most pointedly, Longo flatly rejected Prochazka's mercy narrative, saying the second-ranked light heavyweight was simply lost during the fight and constructed an excuse afterward.
Ulberg followed with his own rebuttal, going further by suggesting fear, not compassion, drove Prochazka's hesitation. The New Zealand-based fighter accused Prochazka, who carries a 32-6-1 record and a striking output of 5.69 significant strikes per minute, of playing to the crowd and manufacturing a storyline designed to justify a rematch with Magomed Ankalaev. Ulberg also noted that Prochazka did not approach him following their own fight, adding a personal dimension to his skepticism about the mercy claim.
On a separate note, Ulberg mentioned that Donald Trump told Paulo Costa — the hard-hitting Brazilian middleweight ranked thirteenth at 185 pounds with a 16-4-0 record — that he was too beautiful to be a fighter after a recent bout.
Why it matters
- Prochazka's public credibility takes a hit if two respected voices in the sport are united in rejecting his post-fight framing.
- The rematch angle with Ankalaev now carries added political baggage, with critics arguing the mercy story is a lobbying tool rather than a genuine account.
- Reports of distance between Ulberg and Israel Adesanya at City Kickboxing, with the two not recently seen together, add a layer of instability to one of MMA's most prominent training camps.
