Jiří Procházka has fired back at Carlos Ulberg's recent comments accusing the Czech fighter of 'pretending' when speaking about mercy in combat. Procházka's response made reference to rumors that Ulberg worked as a stripper in New Zealand before his MMA career. The exchange adds personal tension between the two light heavyweight contenders. Ulberg had previously clarified that he wasn't actually a stripper, but rather worked as a host and promoter whose role was to attract women to clubs and parties. The details of Procházka's specific response to Ulberg's criticism are limited in the original report.
A verbal sparring match between two of the light heavyweight division's most dangerous strikers has spilled into personal territory, with Jiří Procházka firing back at Carlos Ulberg following Ulberg's accusation that the Czech fighter "pretends" when he speaks about mercy in combat. Procházka's response leaned into rumors surrounding Ulberg's pre-MMA life in New Zealand, referencing reports that the Kiwi worked as a stripper before his fighting career took off.
Ulberg has previously addressed those rumors directly, clarifying that he was not a stripper but instead worked as a host and promoter, with his job centered on drawing women to clubs and private events. Procházka's decision to invoke that chapter of Ulberg's past nonetheless adds a pointed, personal edge to what had been a philosophical disagreement about fighting and mindset.
Ulberg, who trains out of City Kickboxing in New Zealand, enters this feud as one of the most compelling contenders in the 205-pound division. Ranked third at light heavyweight, the 35-year-old carries a 15-1 record and backs it up with elite striking numbers — landing 6.54 significant strikes per minute at 55 percent accuracy, figures that place him among the most efficient and active strikers in the weight class. Standing six-foot-four with a 77-inch reach, he is a physically imposing presence who has bulldozed most of the opposition placed in front of him.
Procházka, the former light heavyweight champion, needs no introduction in this division, and his willingness to engage in psychological warfare with a rising contender like Ulberg signals he is keeping close tabs on who is climbing toward the title picture.
Why it matters
- Ulberg is ranked third at light heavyweight, meaning any fight with Procházka would carry genuine title-contention implications
- The personal nature of the exchange raises the stakes beyond a standard callout
- Both fighters are aggressive, high-output strikers, making a potential matchup a compelling style clash at 205 pounds
