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Brett Okamoto
Multiple Authors
Carlos Ulberg won the UFC light heavyweight championship on Saturday — and he did it on one good leg.
In one of the most improbable moments in recent UFC memory, Ulberg (14-1) dropped Jirí Prochazka with a left hook in the first round of their 205-pound title fight at UFC 327 in Miami, just moments after suffering an apparent injury to his right knee. The injury occurred during an exchange on the feet, when Ulberg’s knee buckled as he took a step backward and slipped to the canvas.
Ulberg managed to get to his feet but was visibly compromised and slipped again shortly after he threw a head kick. It looked like the fight was all but lost, until Ulberg suddenly landed a perfect left hook that sent Prochazka crashing to the canvas. Ulberg followed with shots on the ground to secure the sixth knockout of his career at the 3:45 mark.
“I blew out my knee, but I never counted myself out,” Ulberg said. “I knew that all I needed was that one shot. I knew Jiri would come forward. I knew as soon as I landed the left hand, he was gone. I’ve got to sort this knee out, but I’m the champion.”
Prochazka (32-6-1), a former champion who was looking to reclaim the belt he was forced to vacate in 2022, admitted he recognized Ulberg was injured and dropped his guard.
“I felt mercy in that fight,” Prochazka said. “I felt sorry for him. This is one of the biggest lessons in my life. I can’t understand. That fight was won. I won that fight. I had it. It was in my hand. I just let him [back] because I saw his injury. F—. Life is about that. Learn and be better.”
Prochazka did appear to immediately notice the injury, and even pointed to the ground in front of Ulberg, almost gesturing that he would stand and trade in place with the New Zealander. Prochazka landed several good leg kicks after the injury, all to Ulberg’s lead left leg. It looked like a nearly impossible scenario for Ulberg, and there even appeared to be a chance doctors might stop the bout between rounds.
Ulberg, who trains out of the same City Kickboxing Gym as all-time middleweight great Israel Adesanya, nevertheless remained composed. According to UFC Stats, he actually outlanded Prochazka in the fight 21-11 and joined Alex Pereira and Muhammad Lawal as the only men to ever knock Prochazka out.
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