Carlos Ulberg faces Jiri Prochazka for vacant UFC light-heavyweight title
New Zealand’s Carlos Ulberg will face former champion Jiri Prochazka for the vacant light-heavyweight title at UFC 327 in Miami on Saturday.
The 35-year-old enters the Octagon at the Kaseya Centre riding a formidable nine-fight win streak.
This championship opportunity arises after Brazilian star Alex Pereira vacated the 205lb belt to move up to the heavyweight division.
While the bout represents the pinnacle of his sporting career, the surging contender credits a turbulent upbringing for his elite resilience.
Forged in foster care
Moving between dozens of different families from the ages of four to 13, the challenger experienced a remarkably challenging childhood.
He acknowledges that while some households provided stability, others left him facing daily physical abuse from fellow foster children.
That’s what has created me into this space that I am now and it’s a good thing. That’s what’s brought the best out of me.
I grew out of that kind of feel-sorry-for-yourself mentality and started to just push forward, and that’s what built a resilience in me.
An unconventional path to the top
The Auckland native has lived an exceptionally diverse life before focusing entirely on mixed martial arts.
Known for his explosive athleticism, the former reality television star previously played semi-professional rugby league and competed in professional boxing.
He believes experiencing such a wide spectrum of family dynamics during his youth ultimately fostered a crucial sense of empathy and open-mindedness.
I was really understanding at that age how different families would be, how loving some would be.
I guess it just made me understand people. It just made me open-minded.
The final hurdle in Miami
Standing between him and championship glory is the formidable Czech fighter Prochazka.
Ranked third in the division, the New Zealander has frequently visualised the moment the referee raises his hand in victory.
When I get that belt raised, it’s gonna feel amazing because time will flash at that moment.
When you’re visualising it you just know you’ll be thinking back to the times you had and the stresses – the physical stress, the emotional stress and everything that you’d gone through.
