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Important update on 1476AM'Never counted myself out': Ulberg savours UFC title glory after remarkable triumph
Stephen Foote • April 13th, 2026 9:29 am
Carlos Ulberg | Photo: UFC
Newly minted UFC light heavyweight champion Carlos Ulberg is adamant it was never in doubt.
Severely compromised by an apparent ACL injury and with Jiri Prochazka advancing toward him with ruthless intent, the 'Black Jag' says he never wavered from his plan and his self belief.
Limping on one leg and with the odds stacked against him, Ulberg found the slither of space he needed and made Prochazka pay the ultimate price for his recklessness, catching him with a perfect check left hook to send the Czech to the deck and become the second Kiwi to win a UFC world championship.
"Yeah, it’s just adapting on the fly,” Ulberg said at the UFC 327 post-fight press conference.
"We've had issues like this before. We’re in a big fight and you expect things like this to happen, so I never counted myself out at any moment.
"Just sticking to the plan, sticking to the game plan, and I think that’s what got us there in the end was staying calm and whatever fire came through us."
Prochazka was crestfallen in defeat, claiming he "showed mercy" to Ulberg and threw away a fight that was clearly his to lose, squandering his shot at another belt. Had the fight reached the end of the first round, the Octagon-side doctor likely would have called the fight off due to the nature of Ulberg's injury.
Predictably, Ulberg had little sympathy for his vanquished opponent.
"I guess Jiri made the mistake of coming forward as I was on the cage and he walked into that left hook," Ulberg said.
"I feel like he made the mistake there because I would not have done the same. If you’re in there to get that title, you do whatever it takes to get that win."
Carlos Ulberg delivers the final blows | Photo: UFC
The result extended Ulberg's unbeaten streak to 10, putting him clear-cut second all-time for consecutive wins in the 205lb division behind only the legendary Jon Jones.
Sweetening the moment even further was a performance of the night bonus $US100,000 ($NZ173,000), on top of the $US25,000 ($NZ43,000).
Sitting at the post-fight press conference with the title placed in front of him, the Aucklander admitted the moment was still very much surreal.
"It is all over the place at the moment and hasn’t really sunk in," Ulberg said.
"The team is happy, we’re happy, we came in and we got the job done, and that’s what we are here for is to get that title, and we did that."
As for what's next for the Aucklander, the waters are murky.
While the diagnosis of an ACL tear is yet to be confirmed, all signs point to a lengthy layoff from competition, with recovery estimates at around the 12-14 month range.
The UFC have a proven track record in stripping champions in such situations, a predicament they found themselves in with Jamahal Hill in the same division back in 2023.
But that's a question for another day for Ulberg.
“I’m no doctor,” Ulberg said. “I have no idea what’s going to happen, but all I know is we’ll go and assess it, see what happens, and then try to get into the gym as soon as I can.
"Hopefully it’s not as bad as it may seem, but I’m looking to get in the gym as soon as I can."
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