Carlos Ulberg: Will the CKB sniper light up Jiří?

Twelve seconds. That’s all it took for Carlos Ulberg to turn Alonzo Menifield into an internet meme and send a wake-up call to the entire division: the "Black Jag" isn't chasing modeling contracts anymore, he’s chasing heads. In a Light Heavyweight division that often feels like a bar fight, Ulberg is the intruder who walks in wearing a tuxedo, sets down his drink, and cleans house with the precision of a caffeinated Swiss watchmaker.

🥊 Quick Stats

Name: Carlos Ulberg
Record: 14-1-0
Fun Fact: Turned down millions in modeling to get his nose broken (and break everyone else's).

The High-Five Block

Last 5 results:

• ✅ Alonzo Menifield - KO (Punches) Round 1
• ✅ Da Woon Jung - Submission (RNC) Round 3
• ✅ Ihor Potieria - TKO (Punches) Round 1
• ✅ Nicolae Negumereanu - KO (Punches) Round 1
• ✅ Tafon Nchukwi - TKO (Punches) Round 1

The Origin Story

Before becoming the nightmare of UFC chins, Carlos Ulberg was a Rugby League star for Counties Manukau. A sport where you learn that contact isn't an option, it's a courtesy. But the field was too big for him. Ulberg wanted isolation, one-on-one, pure and codified violence. He pivoted to kickboxing and quickly became a two-time "King in the Ring" champion, the legendary Oceania tournament that separates the men from the boys in a single night.

It’s this elite striker base that defines his DNA today. He doesn't "brawl," he dissects. Trained at City Kickboxing (CKB) under the tyrannical eye of Eugene Bareman, he grew up in the shadow of Israel Adesanya and Dan Hooker. The result? He possesses that movement science typical of the New Zealand school: staying a millimeter away from impact only to return with lightning that nobody sees coming. His style is rugby played with fists: maximum impact, minimum fluff.

The aesthete who turns out the lights

Ulberg’s rise in the UFC wasn't exactly a smooth ride. There was that crash test against Kennedy Nzechukwu in 2021. Ulberg was dominating, having fun, then ended up exploding mid-flight, a victim of his own volume and the overconfidence typical of early-career geniuses. That loss was his best teacher. Since then, the Jag has become a patient predator. He no longer hunts for the KO; he waits for his opponent to offer their chin on a silver platter.

His six-fight win streak is a methodical carnage. What’s shocking isn't just that he wins, it’s how clean the work is. 59% striking accuracy. In a division where people often close their eyes and swing haymakers, Ulberg keeps his eyelids wide open. He uses his jab like a construction laser to measure distance before unleashing his counter left hook. It’s that short, sharp shot that put Menifield to sleep and now has the top of the rankings shaking.

Useless Knowledge

• He participated in the New Zealand version of "The Bachelor," proving he can break hearts just as well as orbital bones.
• He won the "King in the Ring" tournament in two different weight classes, a rare technical feat in kickboxing.
• His nickname "Black Jag" was validated by Israel Adesanya himself, who considers him the most athletic member of the entire CKB gym.

The MMX Take

Facing Jiří Procházka, Ulberg enters another dimension. It’s the fight of discipline versus chaos. Procházka is a samurai on acid who attacks from impossible angles; Ulberg is a sniper waiting for the target to enter his crosshairs. The killer stat? 100% takedown defense in the UFC. No one has managed to keep him on the ground. If Jiří tries to turn this into a messy rugby scrum, Carlos might get caught off guard. But if it stays a chess match on the feet, the technical edge goes to the Kiwi.

It’s the perfect "Title Eliminator." Is Ulberg ready for the throne? His distance management is elite, but he’s never been through 25 minutes of total war like Jiří against Teixeira. For your picks in the League, it’s a bet on finesse versus madness. If Ulberg survives the first round without getting sucked into the Czech’s weird vortex, his left hook might just end the samurai hype by the second round. A Jag who never misses his prey twice.

Carlos Ulberg is living proof that you can be too good-looking for this sport and still be the most dangerous guy in the cage. Do you think he’ll win his next fight? Come make your picks and challenge your buddies on MMX.

📋 On the same card: Check out all the profiles for UFC 327: Procházka vs. Ulberg