RESOLVING THE LEDGER
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Carlos Ulberg doesn't think any of the contenders have done enough to get a shot at his UFC light heavyweight title, which is why the champ has offered a solution.
Ulberg put on his matchmaker shoes and offered some suggestions for how the top of the division should be matched up to determine the next title challenger. Ulberg is currently recovering from an ACL injury he suffered in his title-winning KO of Jiri Prochazka in April. He targets a return to the cage in early 2027, and he'd like to have a contender ready to complete his first title defense.
The New Zealand fighter took to Instagram on Sunday, following Magomed Ankalaev 's win at UFC Abu Dhabi, and made some fights for the weight class.
"After last night's fights, here's my thoughts," Ulberg wrote. "Ankalaev vs. Jiri. Give them both full camps. It's a fight the division deserves, and stylistically, it's one the fans would love to see. Costa vs. Rountree. That's a wildcard. High risk, high reward. Someone's leaving with serious momentum. By the time the dust settles, I'll be ready. Whoever earns it. See you in 2027."
UFC champ Carlos Ulberg suggests a four-man tourney to determine his first challenger after #UFCAbuDhabi . ▪️Magomed Ankalaev vs. Jiri Prochazka ▪️Paulo Costa vs. Khalil Rountree Jr. Best performance gets the show. Agree? pic.twitter.com/4pZvgoSU7x
— MMA Junkie (@MMAJunkie) July 26, 2026 Prochazka hasn't fought since losing to Ulberg in April, and has yet to be booked for a fight. Prior to the KO loss, Prochazka was on a two-fight winning streak with stoppages over Jamahal Hill and Khalil Rountree Jr.
Ankalaev picked up a TKO win over Bogdan Guskov in the main event of UFC Abu Dhabi on Saturday. It was his first fight since losing the title in a rematch with Alex Pereira last October.
Rountree hasn't competed since October, when he was stopped by Prochazka in a Fight of the Night performance at UFC 320. He was supposed to fight Ankalaev on Saturday, but a couple of weeks ago he suffered an injury and had to withdraw from the bout, thus getting replaced by Guskov.
Paulo Costa has been itching to get a fight and has expressed his frustrations online. He last fought in April when he stopped Azamat Murzakanov in a big upset, which marked his return to the UFC light heavyweight division. He's currently on a two-fight winning streak.
This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: Carlos Ulberg matchmakes the UFC's 205 division for next challenger
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