Ray Longo, coach to Merab Dvalishvili and Aljamain Sterling, has called for a discussion about mental health in MMA while criticizing Jiri Prochazka's post-fight explanations. Longo mocked Prochazka's unconventional practices and his claim that he showed "mercy" in his loss, stating the fighter simply made serious mistakes. Carlos Ulberg also weighed in, saying Prochazka's mercy claim was nonsense and that fear was the real issue. Ulberg accused Prochazka of playing to the audience and using excuses to seek a rematch, predicting Ankalaev will defeat him. Ulberg also noted that Prochazka didn't approach him after their fight and suggested his behavior is performative. Additionally, the post mentions Donald Trump told Paulo Costa he's "too handsome to be a fighter" after a recent bout.
Ray Longo and Carlos Ulberg have both publicly challenged Jiri Prochazka's post-fight narrative following his recent loss, with the veteran coach dismissing the Czech fighter's explanations as excuses and Ulberg questioning the authenticity of his character.
Longo, best known as the longtime coach of Merab Dvalishvili and former bantamweight champion Aljamain Sterling, used the moment to call for a broader conversation about mental health in MMA while taking direct aim at Prochazka's unconventional approach to the sport. He mocked the thirty-three-year-old's well-documented unorthodox practices and flatly rejected Prochazka's claim that he showed "mercy" during the fight, stating the ranked number-two light heavyweight simply made serious errors that cost him the bout.
Prochazka, who carries a 32-6-1 record and stands six-foot-three with an 80-inch reach, is one of the division's most aggressive strikers, averaging 5.69 significant strikes per minute at 55 percent accuracy. His style and personality have always drawn attention, but those same qualities are now drawing skepticism from within the sport.
Ulberg, ranked third in the light heavyweight division at 15-1-0, was equally blunt. The City Kickboxing product called Prochazka's mercy claim nonsense, arguing that fear was the true factor in the performance. The New Zealander, who stands six-foot-four and lands 6.54 significant strikes per minute, accused Prochazka of playing to the crowd and using theatrical framing to position himself for a rematch. He also noted that Prochazka did not approach him after their own fight, suggesting the behavior is more performance than principle. Ulberg predicted Magomed Ankalaev would defeat Prochazka in any future meeting.
Separately, middleweight contender Paulo Costa drew an unlikely mention when Donald Trump reportedly told the Brazilian he was "too handsome to be a fighter" following a recent bout. Costa, ranked thirteenth at middleweight with a 16-4-0 record, lands 6.26 significant strikes per minute at 58 percent accuracy and has zero submission attempts across his UFC career.
Why it matters
- Prochazka's standing at number two in the division makes the credibility of his post-fight comments relevant to any title picture discussion
- Ulberg's criticism carries extra weight given he has shared the cage with Prochazka and sits just one spot below him in the rankings
- The episode highlights a growing tension between Prochazka's public persona and how his peers interpret his conduct
