Carlos Ulberg, the newly crowned UFC light heavyweight champion, faces a significant layoff following his victory at UFC 327.
Last weekend, “Black Jag” secured the championship by knocking out Jiri Prochazka in the first round of the main event, where the vacant 205-pound title was contested.
During the fight, Ulberg battled through severe adversity, struggling to put weight on his leg and visibly losing balance due to a knee injury sustained from Prochazka. However, the Czech fighter did not capitalize on the opportunity. Shortly after, Ulberg caught him off guard, landed a knockout blow, and followed up with aggressive ground-and-pound to win the UFC title while fighting on a single leg.
Carlos Ulberg underwent knee surgery yesterday, and he shared this update with his fans via social media.
His manager, Ash Belcastro, confirmed to Ariel Helwani that “Black Jag” tore his ACL at UFC 327. The surgery yesterday “went really well.”
Belcastro also revealed that because Ulberg continued to fight for several minutes with a torn ACL, he also suffered tibia damage and bone bruising. Nevertheless, the situation is now looking more positive, and according to the manager:
“[Ulberg] is dedicated to getting back as soon as he can.”
When Will Carlos Ulberg Return?
According to the Cleveland Clinic, a torn ACL typically takes six to nine months to heal. However, competitive athletes are advised to allow for additional recovery time before returning to action.
In Ulberg’s case, even with top-tier medical care, physical therapy, and a proper rehabilitation process, the 35-year-old fighter is likely to return to competition next year. In the interim, the UFC might consider scheduling an interim light heavyweight title bout to keep the division moving.
