Carlos Ulberg
Mr. Marvelous
New Zealand
Wins UFC gold on one leg
Ulberg won the vacant UFC Light Heavyweight Championship on Saturday, defeating Jiri Prochazka via KO (punches) at 3:45 of Round 1 at UFC 327 in Miami.
ANALYSIS
It's without a doubt one of the most unlikely championship victories in the history of the sport because Ulberg did it on one leg. Carlos appeared to completely blow his right knee out after landing funny about two minutes in. He confirmed as much in his post-fight interview. He was hopping around around the rest of the way and it appeared to be just a matter of time before Prochazka, or the cage side doctor, shut him down for good. Instead, he fired off a sweeping left hook which found the mark and dropped Jiri in an instant. Ulberg was able to hobble over and finish the job, forcing referee Herb Dean to call things off. We obviously need an official diagnosis, but this had the look of a serious, long-term injury. If Ulberg is out a while, maybe the company would book an interim 205-pound title fight. They've never been hesitant to do it before and this is one of the rare instances in which it would be justified. Ulberg deserves to retain his title after this superhuman effort.
It's without a doubt one of the most unlikely championship victories in the history of the sport because Ulberg did it on one leg. Carlos appeared to completely blow his right knee out after landing funny about two minutes in. He confirmed as much in his post-fight interview. He was hopping around around the rest of the way and it appeared to be just a matter of time before Prochazka, or the cage side doctor, shut him down for good. Instead, he fired off a sweeping left hook which found the mark and dropped Jiri in an instant. Ulberg was able to hobble over and finish the job, forcing referee Herb Dean to call things off. We obviously need an official diagnosis, but this had the look of a serious, long-term injury. If Ulberg is out a while, maybe the company would book an interim 205-pound title fight. They've never been hesitant to do it before and this is one of the rare instances in which it would be justified. Ulberg deserves to retain his title after this superhuman effort.
Fight Log
Loading Fight Log...
More Fantasy News
Fighting Prochazka for title
Ulberg will fight Jiri Prochazka at UFC 327 on April 11 for the UFC Light Heavyweight Championship, Marcel Dorff of Eurosport.nl reports.
ANALYSIS
Ulberg has won nine consecutive fights since losing his UFC debut back in 2021, and he'll have a chance to claim the vacant title with a 10th victory. His opponent will have a three-inch reach advantage but is coming off a fight in which he won after a very slow start.
Ulberg has won nine consecutive fights since losing his UFC debut back in 2021, and he'll have a chance to claim the vacant title with a 10th victory. His opponent will have a three-inch reach advantage but is coming off a fight in which he won after a very slow start.
Closing in on title shot
Ulberg defeated Dominick Reyes via KO (punches) at 4:27 of Round 1 at UFC Fight Night on Saturday in Perth, Australia.
ANALYSIS
A knockout victory over Reyes probably doesn't mean all that much in the grand scheme of things as we push towards the end of 2025, but this was Ulberg's ninth win in a row, and it came in a main event spot. It's probably going to be enough to earn him a title shot. After a run of back-to-back decision wins over Jan Blachowicz and Volkan Oezdemir, Ulberg destroyed Reyes with a left hand followed by a sweeping right hook. The finish would go on to earn him one of four $50,000 Performance of the Night bonuses awarded on the evening. Carlos' lack of grappling skills figures to come back to haunt him sooner or later, but it hasn't yet, and he's nearly at the mountain top. Ulberg said in his post-fight interview that he will be flying to Las Vegas for next week's 205-pound title fight between champion Magomed Ankalaev and challenger Alex Pereira. He's almost certainly next in line for the winner.
A knockout victory over Reyes probably doesn't mean all that much in the grand scheme of things as we push towards the end of 2025, but this was Ulberg's ninth win in a row, and it came in a main event spot. It's probably going to be enough to earn him a title shot. After a run of back-to-back decision wins over Jan Blachowicz and Volkan Oezdemir, Ulberg destroyed Reyes with a left hand followed by a sweeping right hook. The finish would go on to earn him one of four $50,000 Performance of the Night bonuses awarded on the evening. Carlos' lack of grappling skills figures to come back to haunt him sooner or later, but it hasn't yet, and he's nearly at the mountain top. Ulberg said in his post-fight interview that he will be flying to Las Vegas for next week's 205-pound title fight between champion Magomed Ankalaev and challenger Alex Pereira. He's almost certainly next in line for the winner.
Next bout scheduled
Ulberg will take on Dominick Reyes in a light heavyweight bout at UFC Perth on Sept. 27, per Marcel Dorff of Eurosport.nl.
ANALYSIS
Ulberg is coming off a win over Jan Blachowicz via unanimous decision, his eighth-straight victory and one that pushed his UFC record to 8-1. Now, he'll get a chance to face another fighter on a nice winning streak, Dominick Reyes, who's won his last three bouts and most recently disposed of Nikita Krylov in the first round of a fight back in April.
Ulberg is coming off a win over Jan Blachowicz via unanimous decision, his eighth-straight victory and one that pushed his UFC record to 8-1. Now, he'll get a chance to face another fighter on a nice winning streak, Dominick Reyes, who's won his last three bouts and most recently disposed of Nikita Krylov in the first round of a fight back in April.
Wins again, title shot next?
Ulberg defeated Jan Blachowicz via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28) at UFC Fight Night on Saturday in London.
ANALYSIS
Ulberg did enough to win, but not by much and certainly not in overwhelming fashion. Perhaps respecting the power of their opponent, both men were hesitant to engage the other. Ulberg won the significant strike battle by a 75-59 count, but it's hard to remember even one notable blow that landed. The most impactful weapon on both sides were leg kicks. The UFC has done a great job of making sure Ulberg -- a kickboxer by trade -- hasn't had to face grapplers. Many thought Blachowicz would try to lean on his wrestling, but he attempted just one takedown. Whether or not Ulberg can wrestle is going to remain an open question until someone spams takedowns against him. As is, he's won eight in a row and is closing in on a title shot at 205 pounds.
Ulberg did enough to win, but not by much and certainly not in overwhelming fashion. Perhaps respecting the power of their opponent, both men were hesitant to engage the other. Ulberg won the significant strike battle by a 75-59 count, but it's hard to remember even one notable blow that landed. The most impactful weapon on both sides were leg kicks. The UFC has done a great job of making sure Ulberg -- a kickboxer by trade -- hasn't had to face grapplers. Many thought Blachowicz would try to lean on his wrestling, but he attempted just one takedown. Whether or not Ulberg can wrestle is going to remain an open question until someone spams takedowns against him. As is, he's won eight in a row and is closing in on a title shot at 205 pounds.
Next fight booked
Ulberg will take on Jan Blachowicz in a light heavyweight bout at UFC London on March 22, Marcel Dorff of Eurosport.nl reports.
ANALYSIS
Ulberg is looking to keep cruising. Since dropping his first career UFC fight back in 2021, he's won seven straight in the promotion. His chance at eight in a row will come against a fighter in Blachowicz who is seven years his senior and coming off shoulder surgery. Blachowicz also lost his last fight at the hands of Alex Pereira via split decision.
Ulberg is looking to keep cruising. Since dropping his first career UFC fight back in 2021, he's won seven straight in the promotion. His chance at eight in a row will come against a fighter in Blachowicz who is seven years his senior and coming off shoulder surgery. Blachowicz also lost his last fight at the hands of Alex Pereira via split decision.