Carlos Ulberg, the newly crowned UFC light heavyweight champion, has labeled Jiri Prochazka a “pretender,” strongly disputing Prochazka’s assertion that he showed mercy during their championship bout at UFC 327.
Ulberg revealed his belief that Prochazka’s hesitation stemmed from fear, not compassion. “That’s bullshit, total bullshit,” Ulberg stated to Ariel Helwani regarding Prochazka’s claim of mercy. “That’s the fear that he had. That wasn’t any kind of mercy… He was full of fear, hesitation, and that’s what got him clipped. I think he’s a pretender.” Ulberg further suggested that Prochazka’s public statement about mercy was an attempt to secure a rematch, which he believes is unlikely.
The new champion also provided an update on the significant leg injury he sustained during the fight. While Ulberg admitted his corner considered stopping the fight after the first round due to his knee issues, he managed to continue and ultimately secure the victory. He is currently awaiting scans to determine the extent of the damage, suspecting a possible ACL tear.
“We don’t know for sure [if it’s a torn ACL],” Ulberg told Helwani. “I’ll get the scans done when I arrive in Vegas. The knee felt like it was going in and out of the socket…The pain was unbearable.” Despite the severe pain and swelling, Ulberg emphasized his determination to overcome the injury.
