Anthony Smith Disputes Jiri Prochazka's 'Mercy' Claim After UFC 327 Loss

Former title challenger believes Prochazka got overconfident and 'counted his money' before getting knocked out by Carlos Ulberg.

Apr. 17, 2026 at 2:03am

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A fractured, geometric painting depicting the intense action and shifting momentum of a UFC light heavyweight fight, with sharp planes of color and form representing the unpredictable nature of the sport.A cubist interpretation of the unexpected knockout loss that dashed Jiri Prochazka's hopes of regaining the UFC light heavyweight title.Today in Miami

Jiri Prochazka's post-fight comments claiming he showed 'mercy' to Carlos Ulberg after seeing his injured knee have been widely disputed. Former UFC title challenger Anthony Smith believes Prochazka became overconfident, thinking he had Ulberg 'dead in the water', and was already 'counting his money' in Miami instead of staying focused, leading to his sudden knockout loss at UFC 327.

Why it matters

Prochazka's loss was a major setback in his quest to regain the UFC light heavyweight title, and his controversial 'mercy' explanation has sparked debate in the MMA community. Smith's assessment provides an alternative perspective on what may have led to Prochazka's downfall, highlighting the dangers of overconfidence in high-stakes fights.

The details

In the main event of UFC 327 in Miami, former UFC light heavyweight champion Jiri Prochazka was knocked out by Carlos Ulberg. Prochazka claimed he showed 'mercy' to Ulberg after seeing that he had sustained a serious knee injury, but this explanation has been widely disputed. Anthony Smith, a former title challenger, believes Prochazka became overconfident after realizing Ulberg was hurt, thinking he had his opponent 'dead in the water', and was already 'counting his money' and imagining celebrating with the title belt instead of staying focused, leading to his sudden knockout loss.

  • UFC 327 took place on April 12, 2026 in Miami, Florida.

The players

Jiri Prochazka

A former UFC light heavyweight champion who has lost three straight fights with the title on the line.

Carlos Ulberg

The Kiwi fighter who knocked out Prochazka at UFC 327 in Miami.

Anthony Smith

A former UFC light heavyweight title challenger who provided an alternative assessment of Prochazka's loss.

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What they’re saying

“Jiri has seen that he is hurt. Now, instead of being in this really hyper-focused situation where you have this dangerous monster in front of you — he's already spent time in there with him, he's already figured out his speed, felt his power, knows what he's dealing with, and now that guy is hurt. That stress level comes down a little bit. He's like, 'I got him.' … And I think he got a little reckless. I really believe that Jiri thought he had Ulberg dead in the water and was playing with his food.”

— Anthony Smith, Former UFC Title Challenger

“I don't think it's mercy. I don't think he was trying to be nice to him. I don't give a s— what anybody says, that's not how this works. I think he was counting his money already. I think in his head he was thinking about where he was going to go celebrate, imagining what it's going to be like with that belt wrapped around his waist again, and I just think he took his eye off the ball.”

— Anthony Smith, Former UFC Title Challenger

What’s next

Prochazka may now face a lengthy route back to the UFC light heavyweight title after losing three straight fights with the championship on the line. Most have pushed back on his request for an immediate rematch with Ulberg, with Alexander Volkanovski recently telling him a rematch is not warranted given how the fight played out.

The takeaway

Prochazka's loss at UFC 327 highlights the dangers of overconfidence in high-stakes fights. Anthony Smith's assessment suggests Prochazka took his eye off the ball, thinking he had his injured opponent 'dead in the water', instead of staying focused. This serves as a cautionary tale for fighters about the importance of maintaining composure and discipline, even when facing an opponent who appears vulnerable.