Demetrious Johnson Criticizes Jiri Prochazka's Habit of Keeping Hands Down After UFC 327 Loss

The former UFC champion believes Prochazka's tendency to fight with his hands down won't change even after being knocked out by Carlos Ulberg.

Apr. 13, 2026 at 2:03am

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A fragmented, geometric painting depicting the chaotic action of an MMA fight, with sharp planes and angles representing the intense exchanges between the two fighters.A cubist interpretation of the intense UFC 327 main event, where Carlos Ulberg's decisive victory over Jiri Prochazka exposed the latter's recurring weakness of fighting with his hands down.Las Vegas Today

Jiri Prochazka suffered a first-round knockout loss to Carlos Ulberg at UFC 327, with Prochazka claiming he showed 'mercy' to his opponent. However, MMA legend Demetrious Johnson and other experts disagree, criticizing Prochazka's habit of keeping his hands down during fights, which they believe led to his downfall. Johnson believes this flaw in Prochazka's game won't change, even after this latest defeat.

Why it matters

Prochazka's tendency to fight with his hands down has been a recurring issue throughout his career, with several of his losses coming via knockout. Experts have repeatedly warned him about this weakness, and his latest defeat has reignited the debate around his unorthodox fighting style and whether he will be able to address this flaw going forward.

The details

In the UFC 327 main event, New Zealander Carlos Ulberg ended Jiri Prochazka's dream of becoming a two-time champion when he stopped him at 3:45 of the first round. However, after the loss, Prochazka claimed that he showed 'mercy' toward Ulberg, pointing out that Ulberg had injured his knee during the fight. MMA legend Demetrious Johnson does not agree with Prochazka's explanation, criticizing the 'BJP's habit of keeping his hands down, which ultimately led to him getting knocked out.

  • Jiri Prochazka suffered the knockout loss to Carlos Ulberg at UFC 327 on April 12, 2026.

The players

Demetrious Johnson

An MMA legend and former UFC flyweight champion who has criticized Jiri Prochazka's tendency to fight with his hands down.

Jiri Prochazka

A Czech MMA fighter who has competed in 39 professional bouts, suffering 6 losses, 3 of which came in the UFC via knockout, including 2 losses against Alex Pereira.

Carlos Ulberg

A New Zealander MMA fighter who defeated Jiri Prochazka at UFC 327, ending the Czech's dream of becoming a two-time champion.

Chael Sonnen

A UFC veteran who rejected Prochazka's claim that he showed 'mercy' to Ulberg, stating that it was a 'fair contest' and Ulberg was the rightful winner.

Magomed Ankalaev

Jiri Prochazka's rival who called the 'BJP's 'mercy' claim 'fake'.

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What they’re saying

“This is a lesson that I always say to those athletes out there who keep their hands down when they fight, uh, Bobby Green, uh, Jiri Prochazka. When you have your hands down, and a guy goes, 'What, you can't block everything,' and that's the shot that caught Jiri Prochazka at the very edge of the chin and dropped him.”

— Demetrious Johnson, MMA Legend

“I feel like he made a mistake there, because I would not have done the same. If you're in there to get that title, you'd do whatever it takes to get that win.”

— Carlos Ulberg, UFC Fighter

“I didn't see that Jiri thought that he won, and then was showing a kindness. I thought that Jiri was doing his job... It was a fair contest. Ulberg's the winner.”

— Chael Sonnen, UFC Veteran

What’s next

Jiri Prochazka has called for a rematch against Carlos Ulberg, but it remains to be seen if the UFC will grant him that opportunity. Prochazka's tendency to fight with his hands down continues to be a major concern, and experts like Demetrious Johnson believe he will struggle to address this flaw even after this latest defeat.

The takeaway

Jiri Prochazka's unorthodox fighting style, particularly his habit of keeping his hands down, has been a recurring issue throughout his career. Despite repeated warnings from experts, he has been unable to address this weakness, which has led to several knockout losses, including his latest defeat to Carlos Ulberg at UFC 327. This latest loss has reignited the debate around Prochazka's fighting style and whether he will be able to make the necessary adjustments to compete at the highest level.