Carlos Ulberg is set to compete for the vacant light heavyweight title against Jiri Prochazka this weekend at UFC 327, and he feels with an impressive showing he could ‘lure’ Alex Pereira back to the 205-pound division.
Back in March, Pereira vacated the light heavyweight title as he is now attempting to earn a third UFC belt in the heavyweight division. ‘Poatan’ is scheduled to make his heavyweight debut on June 14th at UFC Freedom 250 from the South Lawn of The White House against Ciryl Gane for the interim title, with the hopes of eventually facing champion Tom Aspinall, who currently cannot compete because of an injury to his eyes.
As Ulberg climbed through the ranks, he had expected that he would eventually face Pereira when he made it to the top, but he will now square off with Prochazka, a former division champion, who was successful in his most recent two outings following his failed attempt to regain the title back in 2024.
This Saturday night, Ulberg will look to add to his nine-fight win streak while achieving light heavyweight gold against Prochazka at UFC 327, but it seems his mind is still very much on a future fight with Pereira. During the pre-fight press conference on Wednesday ahead of the event, the New Zealander cited that he feels the fight with Pereira is still certainly a possibility, especially if things against Prochazka go according to plan.
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“I would’ve loved to have fought the champion because that would’ve etched me to be the best,” Ulberg told MMA Junkie and other reporters at Wednesday’s UFC 327 media day. “He is the man right now, and he is definitely the guy that I wanted to fight for that title.”
“I think it could (bring him back),” Ulberg said. “I think a win here, a dominant win here could definitely lure Pereira back to the division and test himself, as well. … He’s the man at the moment and to be the man you’ve got to beat the man. If you want to be the best, you’ve got to beat him.
“He’s definitely the guy that I’ve been keeping a close eye on and wanting that fight because I know that would be the fight to make happen. It is always focusing on me and what’s at hand and in front of me.”
(h/t MMA Junkie)