Kiwi weapon Carlos Ulberg has been crowned the light heavyweight champion after defeating Jiri Prochazka despite suffering an ugly knee injury.
The New Zealander’s knee continually buckled under his weight after an attempted kick in the first round, leaving Ulberg clearly on the back foot.
PPV: UFC 327 Prochazka vs Ulberg | SUN 12 APRIL 11AM AEST | The UFC’s undisputed light heavyweight championship will be on the line, when Jiri Prochazka and Carlos Ulberg meet for the vacant title at UFC 327 | Order Now with Main Event on Kayo Sports.
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But he only needed one leg to get the job done, catching his Czech opponent with a nasty right hook before raining down a barrage of punches.
“He caught him perfect, insane. Just perfect, Carlos Ulberg pulls it out with one leg. Incredible,” Joe Rogan said.
“A champion with one knee.”
Jon Anik added: “He had an absolute sniper and now he is the light heavyweight champion.”
Ulberg now has won his last 10 fights, claiming the belt vacated after Alex Pereira moved up a division, opening the path for the ‘Black Jag’ to become yet another City Kickboxing champion alongside Israel Adesanya.
Carlos Ulberg crowned the new UFC light heavyweight champion.Source: FOX SPORTS
Prochazka was the clear favourite among pundits and fellow fighters before the bout, with Michael Bisping among those tipping him to win.
“Jiri’s got that X-factor,” Bisping said on his podcast during the week, but the New Zealander stunned many with a win in front of the Miami crowd.
But Ulberg proved his doubters wrong with a staggering display, revealing post-fight that he “blew out” his knee.
‘INSANE’ HEAVYWEIGHT BOUT STUNS UFC WORLD
That was simply “insane”.
American duo Josh Hokit and Curtis Blaydes have gone the distance in a bout billed the “craziest heavyweight fight of all time”.
Hokit had his hand raised at the end of the three rounds, but both fighters can be considered a winner after going toe-to-toe in a clash that will go down in UFC history.
Commentary trio Joe Rogan, Jon Anik and Daniel Cormier struggled to get words out, consistently laughing and jeering in amazement as the pair traded barrages of punches.
The early stages of the bout were dominated by Hokit, but he tired quickly after his early charge, which allowed Blaydes to gain the ascendency.
Still, Hokit throughout the bout flipped his opponent the rude finger and taunted him in a fashion that was almost impossible to believe.
“This is the antidote to Reyes and Walker… Josh Hokit is insane, really insane,” Rogan said.
Interestingly, Hokit didn’t sit down between the first and second round, with Rogan questioning that decision after the fighter was clearly exhausted.
But he came out in the second, flipped the bird, and started landing big punches again which stunned Blaydes, with Anik saying: “Hokit can smell blood in the water”.
“This is one of the craziest heavyweight fights of all time,” Rogan said, while Daniel Cormier added: “How is Curtis is still standing?”.
Josh Hokit with a stunning victory over Curtis Blaydes.Source: FOX SPORTS
Cormier also believed the bout was the “craziest heavyweight fight of all time” as the pair come out and prepared for the third round.
Hokit’s corner called for their fighter to throw four punch flurries, but he was unable to end his opponent as the final bell sounded.
“Curtis Blaydes and Josh Hokit forever linked as they go the distance,” Anik said.
Speaking after his win, Hokit rhymed in typical fashion with a soliloquy that rivalled those written by Shakespeare.
“To the Miami mamacita, my bathwater tastes like a sweet margarita. So what is there not to like? When I pick up the mic, a puppy comes back to life,” he said.
“And when it’s time to get litty, you know I can get jiggy. My electric slide could power this whole damn city.
“I’m the ouch that runs his mouth and wears dirty shoes in your house, just to say ‘f*** your coach’.
“I’ll leave you with this, I toot my own horn and beat my own drum but if you think you can beat me in a fist fight, boy is you dumb.”
Hokit also called out Alex Pereira, with the UFC world being left stunned at the scenes that unfolded.
UFC WORLD AGAINST KIWI STAR
Most of the fight world is tipping former champ Jiri Prochazka to get the job done at UFC 327 – but not everyone is convinced the king of chaos will have his hand raised.
Prochazka has emerged as the clear favourite among analysts and ex-fighters to defeat Kiwi star Carlos Ulberg, with several big names backing the Czech superstar to reclaim UFC gold.
Hall of Famer Michael Bisping is among those tipping Prochazka, pointing to his experience in title fights and his ability to perform under pressure.
“Jiri’s got that X-factor,” Bisping said on his podcast during the week.
“He’s got that will to win.”
Bisping is joined by respected former fighters Din Thomas, Dustin Poirier, Michael Chiesa, Paul Felder – all of whom believe Prochazka’s unpredictability, experience and finishing instinct will prove the difference.
But not everyone is convinced.
Reigning featherweight king Alexander Volkanovski is among a smaller group of pros tipping Ulberg to bring the belt Down Under.
“People are going to say I’m biased, but whatever,” Volk said on his YouTube channel.
“Carlos – he’s going to be calculated enough.
“There’s going to be so much footage of Jiri. I’m going to go with Carlos Ulberg – I think he can get it done.
“Tough fight – it’s definitely his biggest test yet.”
And there’s a statistical case to back that up, too. ‘Black Jag’ holds the edge in key striking metrics, landing more significant strikes per minute while also absorbing fewer than the former champ.
Other former pros tipping the upset include ex-world champion Rashad Evans and BMF star Jorge Masvidal.
Another Aussie backing Ulberg is one of the nation’s most respected light heavyweights, Anthony Perosh, who believes the Kiwi has what it takes.
“It’s sharp technique versus chaos,” he told Fox Sports Australia.
“The fight hinges on who can dictate the pace early. Ulberg should look to manage distance and pick shots.
“Prochazka will make it messy and hunt for the finish.
“I am tipping Carlos for the win by unanimous decision.”
Jiri sets sights on capturing UFC gold | 00:42
Ulberg himself is confident Prochazka’s chaotic style will ultimately be his undoing.
“Order beats chaos when chaos puts himself in bad positions,” Ulberg told Fox Sports Australia.
“And order puts chaos in check.
“This is chess, not checkers.”
It comes after Ulberg received a frosty welcome at the UFC 327 press conference on Friday, with the Miami crowd firmly throwing its support behind Prochazka.
The City Kickboxing star was met with a chorus of boos each time he spoke – a stark contrast to the cheers that followed his opponent.
The reaction didn’t worry Ulberg, who smiled his way through it all.
“I’m not surprised at all,” he said.
“He’s a fan favourite. He’s been in some great fights, so it’s all good.”
BOOS RING OUT AFTER DISAPPOINTING BOUT
The fight between Dominick Reyes and Johnny Walker was billed as one of the most exciting bouts on the UFC 327 card.
What was dished up was far from it, with the pair being booed heavily by the Miami crowd after a pair of renowned strikers went the distance.
Throughout the bout, the orthodox versus southpaw stance allowed Walker to continually evade which meant hardly any strikes were landed.
Both fighters are known for finding an early finish — but both stood idle, unsure how to pick the other apart.
“Dominick Reyes is able to escape, my analysts are throwing their hands in the air… a forgettable fight there tonight,” Jon Anik said.
Ulberg talks preparations for Jiri clash | 07:43
FAIRYTALE FINISH FOR SWANSON
It was Cub Swanson’s last UFC fight, and the last active fighter from way back in the WEC era ended his career in style.
Nate Landwehr was on the receiving end of a powerful first-round knockout, with Swanson walking forward continuously to ensure he capped off a stellar career with a win.
It was a staggering performance considering Swanson is 42, while Landwehr argued and wrestled with referee Herb Dean who called a stop to the bout.
“That will do it, Dean intervenes, the ultimate swan song,” Jon Anik said, while Daniel Cormier said: “You couldn’t write a script better”.
Swanson ends his impressive career with a 31-14 record, having beaten current BMF champ Charles Oliveira in the past while also knocking out Dustin Poirier.
Swanson’s retirement, almost 22 years after his professional debut, marks the end of an era for the UFC.
ULBERG PLANNING TO LURE ALEX PEREIRA BACK TO LHW
Kiwi UFC star Carlos Ulberg has revealed his amibitous plan to “lure” former champion Alex Pereira back to the 205-pound division.
‘Poatan’ vacated the title to move up a division and fight Ciryl Gane for the interim heavyweight championship at UFC Freedom 250.
Ulberg will be making his first UFC title fight on Sunday and is riding a wave of momentum, having won his last nine bouts.
Prochazka, meanwhile, is on a three-fight win streak after being knocked out in a title fight against Pereira back in 2024.
Pereira’s devastating knockout power usually has rival fighters ducking for cover, but Ulberg has challenged the former champion to come back to the division after his White House scrap.
“I would’ve loved to have fought the champion because that would’ve etched me to be the best,” Ulberg said.
“He is the man right now, and he is definitely the guy that I wanted to fight for that title.”
Ultimately it is on Ulberg to convince Pereira that the fight is worth moving back for, with the Kiwi adding that he needs a strong performance against Prochazka to do just that.
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“I think a win here, a dominant win here could definitely lure Pereira back to the division and test himself,” Ulberg said.
“He’s the man at the moment and to be the man you’ve got to beat the man. If you want to be the best, you’ve got to beat him.
“He’s definitely the guy that I’ve been keeping a close eye on and wanting that fight because I know that would be the fight to make happen. It is always focusing on me and what’s at hand and in front of me.”