Immediately after his loss at UFC 327, Jiri Prochazka claimed he showed “mercy” to Carlos Ulberg after his opponent suffered a serious knee injury during their fight but still somehow delivered a shocking knockout to claim the vacant light heavyweight title.
That comment didn’t sit well with Ulberg, who called “bullshit” on Prochazka’s excuses. But now that some time has passed and he’s had a chance to reflect on the fight, Prochazka says he wasn’t merciful as much as he just totally lost focus, believing the fight was already won.
“Let’s get this down in black and white so no one comes up with any bullshit here,” Prochazka said on Instagram. “Because what I’m hearing all around is complete nonsense and I have to laugh at it. So briefly and the only thing in the fight: I lost my focus there. Focus on the goal. Focus on the target and that was especially the case when Ulberg injured his leg. I know what that’s like because exactly this happened to me once in a fight in Japan. I fought through that match, but I know what it’s like. The pain, the struggle, so all credit to him for managing to keep a cool head, for catching me with that hook.
“But I can say for myself that I know from the moment that happened to him, I wasn’t at 100% anymore. I was at maybe 40, 50% of my performance and I was just sparring and waiting for the referee to stop the fight at any moment.”
Despite the injury, Ulberg kept fighting and made the most of his opportunity to score the knockout blow that put Prozhazka down before the first round ended. Ulberg acknowledged after his win that if he actually went back to his corner after the round, there was little chance he would have been allowed to continue given the serious nature of the knee injury.
But instead, Ulberg delivered a knockout blow and Prochazka blames himself for allowing that to happen.
“It was a big mistake,” Prochazka said. “Maybe one of the biggest. I don’t want to beat myself up about it nonstop. Because the most important thing is to always learn from it and move forward stronger. So that’s it.”
As far as responding to his biggest detractors since the loss, Prochazka took that in stride and refused to really engage with any of the fighters criticizing him.
“As for responding to all these so-called experts, [Paulo] Costa, [Magomed] Ankalaev and all the other ‘experts’” Prochazka said. “Well, like this,” Prochazka said as he blew them a kiss. “On top of that I don’t even know if Ankalaev is still being written by his manager or if it’s actually him.”
Following his fight in Miami, Prochazka returned home and soon welcomed his first child after his partner gave birth to their daughter.
Right now that remains Prochazka’s primary priority but he expects that he’ll speak to the UFC in the near future to begin plotting his comeback.
“As for the next fight, I’ll start talking about negotiations for the next fight in about a month,” Prochazka revealed. “Because right now it’s time to focus purely and mainly on my family. Even though I’m filled with a million emotions from the fight and all those things are really battling inside me, right now I need to hold my ground at home … and just be the man of the house and enjoy this new energy that’s come to us through my daughter, our daughter.
“I’m already looking forward to the next opponent, the next round of training. To strengthen it again, to be a little better, to stay on the way. Strength and honor.”
Prochazka capped off the post with a prediction that he believes he’ll fight for the UFC light heavyweight title again before Ulberg is cleared to compete following his knee surgery.
“This match has just lit the fire in me even more,” Prochazka said. “And I believe that before Carlos returns to the fight, I will fight for the title.”