Ray Longo, coach to Merab Dvalishvili and Aljamain Sterling, has called for discussion of mental health issues in MMA following Jiri Prochazka's recent performance. Longo mocked Prochazka's unconventional training methods including standing on his head and drinking his own urine, suggesting the fighter was "completely lost" after his defeat. Carlos Ulberg disputed Prochazka's claim that he showed mercy in their fight, stating it was actually fear that held him back. Ulberg accused Prochazka of playing to the public and making excuses to get a rematch, adding that Prochazka didn't approach him after the fight. There are also reports of tension at City Kickboxing gym between Israel Adesanya and Ulberg. Additionally, Ulberg is dealing with a suspected ACL tear that could sideline him for 9-12 months pending confirmation.
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 taking direct aim at Jiri Prochazka following the Czech fighter's recent defeat. Longo mocked Prochazka's unconventional preparation methods — including standing on his head and drinking his own urine — and suggested the light heavyweight contender was "completely lost" in the wake of the loss.
Prochazka, 33, carries a 32-6-1 record and holds the number-two ranking in the light heavyweight division. The six-foot-three Czech Republic native trains out of Jetsaam Gym Brno and is one of the division's most aggressive and high-volume strikers, averaging 5.69 significant strikes landed per minute at 55 percent accuracy.
Carlos Ulberg, ranked third in the same division, pushed back firmly on Prochazka's assertion that he showed mercy during their fight. The 35-year-old City Kickboxing product from New Zealand said it was fear, not compassion, that held Prochazka back. Ulberg accused him of playing to the public and manufacturing a narrative to secure a rematch, and noted that Prochazka did not approach him after the bout. Ulberg carries a 15-1-0 record and ranks among the division's most active strikers, landing 6.54 significant strikes per minute at 55 percent accuracy across his UFC career. He stands six-foot-four with a 77-inch reach.
The fallout extends beyond the Prochazka dispute. Reports have surfaced of internal tension at City Kickboxing between Ulberg and middleweight contender Israel Adesanya, who also trains at the Auckland gym. Adesanya, 36, holds a 24-6-0 record and is currently ranked eighth at middleweight.
Why it matters
- Ulberg's public challenge to Prochazka's account complicates any path to an immediate rematch
- A suspected ACL tear sidelining Ulberg for nine to twelve months pending confirmation would significantly reshape the top of the light heavyweight rankings
- Reported friction between Ulberg and Adesanya at City Kickboxing raises questions about team stability ahead of both fighters' next camps
