Carlos Ulberg, the newly crowned UFC Light Heavyweight champion, is facing a significant layoff from the octagon following his impressive victory at UFC 327.
“Black Jag” clinched the championship by knocking out Jiri Prochazka in the first round of the main event, where the vacant 205-pound belt was on the line. Despite a visibly injured knee that made it difficult for him to put weight on his leg, Ulberg fought through immense pain.
Remarkably, Prochazka did not press for a finish when Ulberg was compromised. Soon after, Ulberg landed a surprising blow, dropped Prochazka, and followed up with powerful ground-and-pound, securing the UFC title while fighting on one leg.
Carlos Ulberg underwent knee surgery yesterday, as he later informed his fans via social media.
His manager, Ash Belcastro, confirmed to Ariel Helwani that Ulberg tore his ACL during the UFC 327 bout. The surgery yesterday reportedly “went really well.” Belcastro also revealed that Ulberg sustained tibia damage and bone bruising from fighting for several minutes with a torn ACL. Despite the injuries, the manager stated that Ulberg is “dedicated to getting back as soon as he can.”
When will Carlos Ulberg return?
According to medical experts, a torn ACL typically requires six to nine months to heal, with competitive athletes often advised to allow even more recovery time. Given Ulberg’s situation, even with excellent medical care and rehabilitation, it is likely he will not compete again until next year. In the interim, the UFC may consider an interim light heavyweight title fight to keep the division active.
