New UFC light heavyweight champion Carlos Ulberg has strongly refuted claims made by Jiri Prochazka, labeling the Czech fighter a “pretender.” The two athletes clashed recently at UFC 327 for the vacant light heavyweight title.
Ulberg sustained a significant knee injury from powerful leg kicks during the bout, with speculation arising about a potential ACL tear. Despite experiencing difficulty moving and standing, Ulberg managed to overcome the injury. He admitted his corner was prepared to stop the fight after the first round, but Prochazka failed to capitalize. Ulberg then seized an opportunity, landing a decisive check hook that put Prochazka down, leading to ground strikes and Ulberg’s victory to claim the championship.
Prochazka had suggested he showed mercy to Ulberg, opting not to finish him. However, Ulberg vehemently denies this, asserting that Prochazka’s hesitation stemmed from fear, not compassion. Speaking to Ariel Helwani, Ulberg stated, “That’s bullshit, total bullshit. That’s the fear that he had. That wasn’t any kind of mercy… There was no mercy in there. He was full of fear, hesitation, and that’s what got him clipped. I think he’s a pretender. He knows that I know that he’s a pretender. When that word ‘merciful’ was fed into his mouth that night after. He went with it and played with it, and that was his excuse so that he could hopefully get a rematch. There is no way he gets that rematch.”
Carlos Ulberg’s Injury Status
In the same interview with Ariel Helwani, Carlos Ulberg provided an update on his leg injury, confirming he is uncertain if he has torn his ACL. He plans to undergo scans upon his arrival in Las Vegas to get a definitive diagnosis. The 35-year-old fighter described his knee as swelling and making even walking a challenge. He elaborated, “We don’t know for sure [if it’s a torn ACL]. 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.”