Carlos Ulberg offers verdict on Jiri Prochazka rematch after bizarre UFC 327 fight

Carlos Ulberg has dismissed the prospect of a rematch with Jiri Prochazka, denying that the latter showed him "mercy" in their bizarre UFC title fight.

In the main event of UFC 327 on Saturday, Ulberg sustained an injury to his knee that left him severely compromised. However, the New Zealander still found a way to knock out Prochazka and win the light-heavyweight title.

It marked a third straight defeat for Prochazka in four UFC title fights, following an initial victory in 2022, while Ulberg tasted gold for the first time in the promotion.

And the new champion, 35, has taken issue with Prochazka’s regretful claim that he showed “mercy” in not attacking Ulberg’s leg enough.

Carlos Ulberg knocked out Jiri Prochazka despite sustaining a knee injury (AP)

“Bulls***, that’s bulls***, total bulls***,” Ulberg told Yahoo Sports. “That’s fear, that was fear that he had. That wasn’t any kind of mercy.

“He knows, he’s a fighter. That’s the difference between a champion and someone who’s just playing for the crowd. There was no mercy in there. He was full of fear and hesitation, and that’s what got him clipped.

“I think he’s a pretender. He knows that I know that he’s a pretender. I think from the very first time we faced off, he knew this was going to be a fight: ‘This is a real one right in front of me.’ He could feel it; he knew that I knew he’s a pretender.

“I think when he had that moment where my leg was compromised, he thought, ‘This could be my opportunity,’ but with the perseverance that I had – and pushed through that and was able to adapt with it – I wasn’t going anywhere.

“There was that very moment where we looked each other in the eyes and he knew: ‘Damn, this is going to be a fight, he’s not going anywhere,’ and I’ve still got my hands. That’s the danger that I have, one shot can kill.”

Speaking on the prospect of a rematch with the Czech fighter, 33, Ulberg said: “He went with [the ‘mercy’ idea] and played with it; that was his excuse so he could hopefully get a rematch. There is no way he gets that rematch.”

Referencing a possible fight that has been mooted for Prochazka’s next outing, Ulberg added: “I don’t see him getting past [Magomed] Ankalaev. He gets his ass beat from Ankalaev, and I don’t see him in that top picture anymore.”

A relieved Ulberg after fighting through his injury to win (AP)

Ulberg’s future as champion is up in the air, however, given the injury he sustained on Saturday. If the Kiwi is to be out of action over the course of the next year, it would mark further instability in the 205lb division since 2020.

That year, divisional great Jon Jones vacated the UFC light-heavyweight title, before Jan Blachowicz knocked out Dominick Reyes to become the new champion in 2021.

That same year, Glover Teixeira submitted Blachowicz, but in 2022 he lost to Prochazka by the same means. However, Prochazka soon gave up the belt due to injury, and a vacant-title fight between Blachowicz and Ankalaev ended as a draw that December.

One month later, Jamahal Hill outpointed Teixeira, but he also vacated the title due to injury. Next, Alex Pereira knocked out Prochazka to win the again-vacant title, and there was briefly stability as the Brazilian recorded three KO wins in 2024 title defences – one of them in a rematch with Prochazka.

Ankalaev outpointed Pereira last March but was knocked out in their October rematch, as Pereira regained the belt, yet he vacated it this year to move up to heavyweight.