Carlos Ulberg is not holding back after his dramatic UFC 327 title win—and he has a clear message for Jiri Prochazka.
Carlos Ulberg shocked the MMA world in Miami, overcoming a serious knee injury to stop Prochazka via TKO and claim the light heavyweight crown. It was a comeback that instantly added to his growing reputation, as he turned a compromised position into a championship finish.
After the fight, Prochazka claimed he showed “mercy” when he noticed Carlos Ulberg was injured, suggesting that hesitation cost him the fight. The comment did not sit well with the new champion.
“Bull****, total bull**** — that’s fear,” Ulberg said during an appearance on The Ariel Helwani Show. “That was fear that he had. That wasn’t any kind of mercy. That’s the difference between a champion and someone who’s just playing for the crowd.”
Carlos Ulberg made it clear that he does not buy into the narrative that Prochazka held back out of compassion.
“There was no mercy in there,” Ulberg added. “He was full of fear, hesitation, and that’s what got him clipped. He’s a pretender, and he knew that I knew he’s a pretender.”
The tension between both fighters became even more obvious after the bout, as they refused to shake hands—fueling talk of a growing rivalry. While some fans have called for an immediate rematch, Carlos Ulberg has already shut that idea down.
“There is no way he gets that rematch,” Ulberg said. “When that word ‘merciful’ was fed into his mouth, that was his excuse so he could hopefully get a rematch.”
Carlos Ulberg’s frustration stems from how the fight actually played out. Despite suffering the knee injury early, he never stopped fighting. Instead, he adapted, stayed composed, and waited for the right moment.
That moment came when Prochazka pressed forward without fully committing. Carlos Ulberg capitalized with a clean counter left hook that ended the fight and crowned him champion.
Reflecting on the exchange, Ulberg said he saw through Prochazka’s approach from the start.
“I think he’s a pretender,” Ulberg said. “From the first faceoff, he knew this was a real fight. When my leg was compromised, he thought that was his opportunity—but I wasn’t going anywhere. I still had my hands, and that’s the danger.”
Carlos Ulberg also dismissed Prochazka’s “samurai” persona, suggesting it plays more to the crowd than reality inside the cage.
“I’ve always known it,” Ulberg said. “He’s just playing for the crowd. I’m not here for that. I’m here to be the best in the world.”
While Prochazka has since apologized and called for a rematch, Carlos Ulberg remains firm in his stance. With the division moving forward, he believes other contenders—like Magomed Ankalaev—deserve the spotlight more.
“I don’t see him getting past Ankalaev,” Ulberg said. “He gets beat there, and I don’t see him in that top picture anymore.”
For now, Carlos Ulberg awaits updates on his knee injury before planning his first title defense. But one thing is already clear—he is not looking back.
