UFC Light Heavyweight Ulberg Proposes Four-Man Tournament

UFC light heavyweight champion Carlos Ulberg has proposed a four-man tournament to determine his next challenger while he recovers from a serious knee injury, aiming to bring clarity to a division he describes as "suffering." The reigning titleholder, who is targeting a return in early 2027, publicly suggested matchups between top contenders Magomed Ankalaev and Jiri Prochazka, and between Paulo Costa and Khalil Rountree Jr., following Ankalaev's victory at UFC Abu Dhabi this past weekend.

Ulberg, who won the title by defeating Prochazka in April but tore his ACL during the fight, laid out his plan on social media. "Ankalaev vs. Jiri. Give them both full camps," Ulberg wrote. "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."

The champion's proposal comes after he attended UFC Abu Dhabi on July 26, where former champion Magomed Ankalaev earned a fifth-round TKO finish over short-notice replacement Bogdan Guskov. The fight was widely criticized for a lack...