Paulo Costa doubts Jiri Prochazka's claim of showing mercy to Carlos Ulberg

Paulo Costa has taken to social media to publicly cast doubt on Jiri Prochazka's claim that he showed mercy during his fight against Carlos Ulberg, injecting himself into one of the more talked-about storylines in the light heavyweight division.

Prochazka, the 33-year-old Czech Republic native ranked second at light heavyweight, carries a record of 32-6-1 and has long been regarded as one of the division's most unorthodox and aggressive competitors. Standing six-foot-three with an 80-inch reach, he lands 5.69 significant strikes per minute at 55 percent accuracy — numbers that underpin his reputation as a constant, high-output threat. His contention that he eased up at some point against Ulberg drew attention across MMA circles.

Ulberg, the New Zealand-based City Kickboxing product ranked third at light heavyweight, brings a 15-1-0 record into his recent notoriety. At six-foot-four with a 77-inch reach, "Black Jag" is actually the higher-volume striker of the two, landing 6.54 significant strikes per minute at 55 percent accuracy, making any suggestion that he was on the receiving end of a charitable performance a point of genuine contention.

Costa, fighting out of a different division entirely, holds a 16-4-0 record as a middleweight ranked thirteenth in that class. "The Eraser," a 35-year-old Brazilian known for his own blunt striking style — 6.26 significant strikes per minute at 58 percent accuracy — offered his skepticism via social media, though the specific nature of his objection was not detailed in the post.

Why it matters

• Prochazka's mercy claim, if widely dismissed, could shape perception of both fighters heading into future light heavyweight title contention
• Ulberg's ranking at third in the division means the narrative around his performance carries real stakes for his title pursuit
• Costa's public commentary, even from outside the division, keeps the debate alive and visible across the broader MMA fanbase