Ray Longo, coach to Merab Dvalishvili and Aljamain Sterling, has called for discussion about mental health issues in MMA, specifically targeting Jiri Prochazka's behavior and post-fight explanations. Longo criticized Prochazka's claim of showing "mercy" in his loss, stating the fighter simply made a serious mistake. Carlos Ulberg also challenged Prochazka's narrative, suggesting fear was the real issue and accusing him of playing to the audience for sympathy to secure a rematch. Ulberg noted that Prochazka didn't approach him after their fight and questioned the authenticity of his public persona. There are also reports of tension at City Kickboxing gym between top fighters, with Israel Adesanya and Ulberg reportedly not seen together recently and ignoring each other's fight results.
Ray Longo, the veteran coach known for guiding Merab Dvalishvili and Aljamain Sterling, has publicly called for a broader conversation around mental health in MMA while directing pointed criticism at light heavyweight contender Jiri Prochazka following the Czech fighter's recent loss.
Longo took particular issue with Prochazka's claim that he had shown "mercy" in the defeat, stating flatly that the 33-year-old simply made a serious mistake and that framing it otherwise does a disservice to honest reflection on performance. Prochazka, who holds a 32-6-1 record and is ranked second in the light heavyweight division, is one of the sport's most prolific strikers, averaging 5.69 significant strikes per minute at 55 percent accuracy. His unorthodox, all-action style has earned him a devoted following, but it is that same public persona that is now drawing scrutiny.
Carlos Ulberg, ranked third at light heavyweight with a 15-1-0 record, went further than Longo in challenging Prochazka's post-fight narrative. Fighting out of City Kickboxing in New Zealand, the 35-year-old "Black Jag" suggested that fear, not mercy, was the genuine explanation for Prochazka's behavior and accused him of crafting a sympathetic story to lobby for a rematch. Ulberg also noted that Prochazka did not approach him after their fight and questioned the authenticity of his persona in front of the cameras. Ulberg himself has averaged 6.54 significant strikes per minute in his UFC career and carries 55 percent striking accuracy.
Adding another layer to the story are reports of friction inside City Kickboxing itself. Israel Adesanya, the 36-year-old middleweight ranked eighth at 24-6-0, and Ulberg have reportedly not been seen together recently and are said to be ignoring each other's fight results, suggesting tension within one of the sport's most prominent gyms.
Why it matters
- Prochazka's standing as the number-two light heavyweight contender means any character debate directly affects the division's rematch and title-shot picture
- Ulberg's public challenge from the number-three position intensifies their rivalry and keeps a potential second fight in the conversation
- Reported internal discord at City Kickboxing could have wider implications for a gym that houses multiple ranked UFC fighters
