Carlos Ulberg says his focus is locked on Jiri Prochazka and the vacant UFC light heavyweight title as he heads into the UFC 327 main event in Miami.
Ulberg will challenge Prochazka for the 205-pound belt, with both men riding strong form into the matchup. Ulberg has gone 9-0 over his past nine fights after losing his octagon debut following a run on Dana White’s Contender Series, while Prochazka enters on a two-fight knockout streak over Jamahal Hill and Khalil Rountree. The only fighter to defeat Prochazka in the UFC is Pereira.
For Ulberg, everything is built around this championship moment. “It’s everything that you’ve worked for. You’ve put all your time and your effort into this moment for that belt to be around your waist and become the champion of the world, and that’s essentially why I’m in this game, is to be the best,” he said.
Ulberg also made it clear he wants Prochazka at full strength. “And I want to fight the best. I want to fight Jiri at his best. I hope he’s the fittest. I hope he’s strong. I hope he comes and gives his A-game, brings the fire. Bring it to me. I want it. I want it like that. I want to get that win over the best Jiri. So come Saturday night, I think that me having that belt around my waist, it’s just going to be a little sweeter when it’s a tough fight.”
Beyond the belt, Ulberg said his drive comes from those closest to him and a long-held belief in where he belongs in the division. “I’ve always had the belief that I’m going to be the champion. I’ve always wanted to be the champion of the world and become that guy at the top of that mountain, sitting at the top of the mountain where people want to try and take it off me. They can try.”
