Carlos Ulberg e Israel adesanya train together at City Kickboxing (Photo: Instagram)
Friend of Israel adesanya and rising in the UFC light heavyweight division (up to 93 kg), Carlos Ulberg declared that a convincing victory over Jan Blachowicz No. UFC London next Saturday (22) could project him as the next challenger for the category belt. The statement comes after Magomed Ankalayev dethrone Alex Poatán No. UFC 313, on March 8, and take the title with a strategy that neutralized the Brazilian's knockout power.
In a press conference prior to the UFC London, Ulberg made it clear that he does not intend to 'jump the queue' in the fight for the belt, but acknowledged that a categorical triumph against Jan Blachowicz next Saturday could put him in the lead as a natural candidate for the next title fight. Regarding the rematch between Poatan and Ankalaev, the New Zealander showed respect for the scenario.
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“If I win and convince against Jan Blachowicz, there will be merit for me to fight for the belt, for sure (…), I know Alex will work on the holes he needs. He is probably in the gym as we speak here. He is a player. I can see that he would make the necessary adjustments, but I feel that Ankalaev is a strong player, too. Anything can happen”, said the fighter.
The statement refers to Ankalaev's victory over Poatan in the UFC 313, when the Russian controlled the pace of the fight with tactical moves that isolated the Brazilian against the fence. The performance highlighted the Russian's ability to neutralize Alex's aggressive style, who was unable to impose his traditional strikes in the exchange.
For Ulberg, the opportunity comes at a crucial time. The fighter, who is ranked sixth in the rankings, has won seven consecutive matches, including knockouts over Ihor Potieria e Alonzo Menifield, which earned him 'Performance of the Night' awards. His only UFC loss came in his debut in 2021, against Kennedy Nzechukwu.
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