MIAMI – Rising fighters train every day in the gym, many while envisioning what a prospective UFC title win would feel like. Carlos Ulberg’s moment came Saturday at UFC 327, and it’s safe to say it was not what he pictured.
“It is all over the place at the moment,” Ulberg told MMA Junkie and other reporters at a post-fight news conference. “It hasn’t really sunk in. The team is happy. We’re happy we came in and got the job done. That’s what we are here for, is to get that title – and we did that.”
Advertisement
While he awaits scans that will show the exact extent of the damage, Ulberg (14-1 MMA, 10-1 UFC) is believe to have suffered a serious knee injury. He was unable to bear much weight on it during the fight and fell multiple times, as his knee buckled. But somehow, some way, Ulberg connected with a big punch that dropped Jiri Prochazka (32-6-1 MMA, 6-3 UFC). More punches finished off the job and Ulberg claimed vacant UFC light heavyweight gold.
“It’s just adapting on the fly,” Ulberg said. “We’ve had issues like this before. We’re in a big fight. You expect things like this to happen. I never counted myself out at any moment. We knew that this was going to be an issue at the time. How do we adapt to it?”
Ulberg denied that his knee was at all compromised entering the fight. He also voiced skepticism at Prochazka’s in-cage comments that he let Ulberg off the hook in an attempt to show mercy to an injured opponent.
“No, I don’t think that,” Ulberg said. “I think 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.”
Advertisement
The extent of the injury will determine his future. But even in a perfect scenario, Ulberg said he didn’t have a specific next foe in mind.
“I’m not too sure who else is there,” Ulberg said. “We leave it up to the guys who know what they’re doing. I just get myself into the gym and prepare for whatever is next.”
This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: Carlos Ulberg reacts to title, injury, and Jiri Prochazka’s comments
