Carlos Ulberg is the UFC’s newest light-heavyweight titleholder, however his first title defence won’t be happening anytime soon.
Ulberg injured his right knee within the first two minutes of the opening round in his UFC 327 main event with Jiri Prochazka on April 11 in Miami, but he was able to land a counter left hook knockout blow while compromised.
On Thursday, the new champ posted an image on a social media story of himself sitting in a hospital bed with the caption: “Knee surgery done.”
The specific injuries and the extent of the damage to his right knee has not been made public and Ulberg’s recovery length is unclear at this time.
The 35-year-old from New Zealand is not expected to return to action in 2026.
“I blew out my knee, but I never counted myself out,” Ulberg said after the fight. “I knew all I needed was that one shot and I ended up getting it, so I knew that Jiri was hesitant to come forward.”
The UFC’s 205-pound division has been in a constant state of upheaval since longtime champion Jon Jones left the weight class six years ago. Ulberg, 35, is the division’s eighth titleholder since Jones vacated the title in 2020.
Ironically, this is the third time since 2022 that a fighter has won a vacant light-heavyweight belt but sustain an injury that requires surgery, resulting in the fighter vacating the title.
Prochazka became champion four years ago when he submitted Glover Teixeira in June 2022 but later vacated the belt after suffering a significant shoulder injury.
Jamahal Hill then won the subsequent vacant title matchup – a dominant decision over Teixeira in January 2023 – but before he could defend the belt he ruptured his Achilles and vacated the title.
It is too early to determine whether Ulberg will be asked or will feel compelled to do the same thing as Prochazka and Hill.