Ray Longo, coach to Merab Dvalishvili and Aljamain Sterling, delivered harsh criticism of Jiri Prochazka's post-fight explanation following his loss to Carlos Ulberg. Longo suggested mental health issues in MMA need discussion, referencing Prochazka's unconventional practices like praying to Olympus, standing on his head, and drinking his own urine. He dismissed Prochazka's claim of showing "mercy" during the fight, saying the fighter simply made a severe mistake. Carlos Ulberg echoed this sentiment, stating that fear, not mercy, caused Prochazka's hesitation, and accused him of playing to the audience with false narratives to secure a rematch. Ulberg noted that Prochazka didn't even approach him after the fight and suggested everything Prochazka does is calculated for public reaction. Donald Trump reportedly told Paulo Costa after his fight that he's "too beautiful to be a fighter."
Ray Longo has come out swinging at Jiri Prochazka's post-fight explanation following the Czech fighter's loss to Carlos Ulberg, with Ulberg himself also rejecting the narrative that Prochazka showed deliberate mercy during their bout.
Longo, the veteran coach known for guiding Merab Dvalishvili and Aljamain Sterling, did not hold back in his assessment of Prochazka's mindset. He raised broader questions about mental health discussions in MMA while pointing to some of Prochazka's well-documented unconventional habits, including praying to Olympus, standing on his head, and reportedly drinking his own urine. Longo's central point was blunt: Prochazka did not show mercy in the fight — he simply made a severe mistake.
Prochazka, 33, carries a 32-6-1 record and is ranked second in the UFC light heavyweight division. The Czech fighter out of Jetsaam Gym Brno stands six-foot-three with an 80-inch reach and lands 5.69 significant strikes per minute at 55 percent accuracy, making him one of the more prolific offensive forces in the division.
Ulberg, ranked third at light heavyweight, had a pointed response of his own. The 35-year-old New Zealander from City Kickboxing holds a 15-1-0 record and argued that fear, not mercy, drove Prochazka's hesitation at the critical moment. He went further, accusing Prochazka of manufacturing a false narrative to position himself for a rematch and playing to the audience rather than being genuine. Ulberg also noted that Prochazka did not approach him after the fight, suggesting every move Prochazka makes is calculated for public consumption. Standing six-foot-four with a 77-inch reach, Ulberg lands an impressive 6.54 significant strikes per minute.
Why it matters
- The dispute over what happened in that finish could shape whether a rematch is made at the top of the light heavyweight division.
- With Prochazka at number two and Ulberg at number three, the rankings implications of this ongoing controversy are significant.
- Longo's involvement adds outside noise that could affect how the UFC frames any future booking between the two fighters.
Separately, Donald Trump reportedly told middleweight Paulo Costa, who holds a 16-4-0 record and ranks thirteenth in his division, that he is "too beautiful to be a fighter" following Costa's most recent bout.
