Jiri Prochazka responded to accusations from Carlos Ulberg, dismissing complaints about being "fake" by saying he doesn't want to hear such criticism from a stripper. The post also mentions that Artem Vakhitov, who last defeated Alex Pereira in kickboxing and is now helping Ciryl Gane prepare, claimed Pereira will lose because he's gained too much mass. Carlos Prates did a face-off with his daughter and Madalena, with Prates clarifying to his daughter who the bad guy is. Islam Makhachev confirmed he has started preparation for his next fight. The post summarizes several recent MMA news items but provides limited detail on each.
A social media spat between Jiri Prochazka and Carlos Ulberg spilled into public view this week, with the Czech light heavyweight firing back at Ulberg's claim that he is "fake" by dismissing the criticism and calling Ulberg a stripper.
Prochazka, ranked second in the light heavyweight division at 33 years old, carries a professional record of 32-6-1. Standing six-foot-three with an 80-inch reach, he is one of the division's most dangerous strikers, landing 5.69 significant strikes per minute at 55 percent accuracy. The Czech Republic native trains out of Jetsaam Gym Brno and has long cultivated an unconventional public persona, making Ulberg's "fake" accusation a particularly charged one to land on him.
Elsewhere in the same wave of MMA social content, Russian kickboxer Artem Vakhitov — who holds a notable victory over Alex Pereira in kickboxing and is currently assisting Ciryl Gane in his preparation — weighed in on Pereira's trajectory. Vakhitov, 35, posted an 85 percent striking accuracy rate across his MMA appearances and argued that Pereira will struggle because he has added too much body mass. Vakhitov's 3-1-0 MMA record is a thin sample, but his kickboxing credentials against Pereira give the opinion some weight in fight circles.
Welterweight champion Islam Makhachev separately confirmed he has begun preparing for his next fight. The 34-year-old Russian, who holds a 28-1-0 record and sits atop the pound-for-pound rankings, is known for elite grappling, averaging 3.2 takedowns per 15 minutes and 1.1 submission attempts per 15 minutes.
Carlos Prates also surfaced on social media in a lighthearted moment, staging a face-off with his daughter alongside Madalena and taking the opportunity to clarify his role as the bad guy in the scenario.
Why it matters
- Prochazka and Ulberg's public exchange raises the temperature in a light heavyweight division already crowded with contenders
- Vakhitov's mass critique of Pereira, coming from someone who has beaten him, adds credibility to an ongoing debate about Pereira's weight management
- Makhachev beginning camp signals the welterweight title picture is moving forward
