New Zealand light heavyweight fighter Carlos Ulberg is undoubtedly one of the most exciting stars in the UFC’s light heavyweight division.
He debuted in the UFC with a first-round knockout of Bruno Oliveira before suffering the only loss of his professional career againstKennedy Nzechukwu.
However, he has secured victory in all six fights since then, winning four by knockout. His latest clash with Alonzo Menifield in March earned him the Performance of the Night bonus.
Menifield bizarrely stormed forward in the opening exchanges, looking to close the distance against his taller opponent.He left himself exposed, and Ulberg ended the fight in just 12 seconds.
Ulberg is now scheduled to face Volkan Oezdemir at UFC Fight Night 248 in Macau, China, on November 23 as he eyes a spot in the top five.
Bookmakers rate Ulberg as the favourite to continue his excellent form and punters in his homeland will be eager to wager on the outcome.
Betting sites in New Zealand will be inundated with bets on Ulberg, and he will fancy his chances of recording another emphatic victory.
A victory over Oezdemir would likely set up a bout with Jamahal Hill, who has already fought champion Alex Pereira for the title. The fearsome Brazilian dropped him with one of the most viral knockouts of the year, but Hill is determined to secure a rematch.
Hill versus Ulberg would be quite the match-up and a test of whether the Kiwi star is ready to upset the oddsagainst the champion. He would not have the height and size advantage, but makes up for it with excellent striking skills.
Ulberg’s left hook is devastating when it connects to the temple, but he also uses it to rip opponents apart with vicious body shots.
There are other exciting fights the UFC could make with Ulberg. Aleksandar Rakic recently lost via unanimous decision to Magomed Ankalaev and could face the Kiwi star.
Jiri Prochazka is another option when he recovers from his two knockout losses to the champion. This is potentially another exciting match-up UFC fans would love to see.
Any of these fights would prepare Ulberg to face Pereira. The 37-year-old former three-weight Glory Kickboxing champion is arguably the best striker in the world of MMA.
Pereira imposes his sizeable frame on his opponents, standing tall to intimidate them. He tends to begin his attacks with devastating low kicks that compromise balance.
His jabs are not telegraphed, making them incredibly hard to read or evade. His pressure is non-stop and he overwhelms opponents in the octagon.
He recently defended his title against Khalil Rountree Jr at UFC 307, stopping him in the fourth round.
After the match, legendary referee Marc Goddard told podcaster and UFC commentator Joe Rogan that he had never heard anything like the sound of Pereira’s punches in his 20 years as an official. He referred to them as ‘ungodly’.
Pereira would unquestionably be Ulberg’s toughest opposition in the octagon. The Kiwi star would need to produce a performance for the ages to have a shot at defeating the world champion.
However, it can be done. Israel Adesanya knocked Pereira out cold at UFC 287, lulling him into a false sense of security before countering.The champion often gets overly excited when he senses a win, and opponents can potentially capitalise on that weakness.
The future is bright for Ulberg, and fans are eager to see what he can ultimately accomplish in the UFC over the next few years.
With hard work, dedication and a bit of luck, he could become the next great New Zealand fighter to claim a coveted UFC title.
