Carlos Ulberg says he never considered quitting despite mid-fight knee injury

Carlos Ulberg has opened up about suffering a knee injury during his UFC 327 appearance on April 11, stating that stopping was never an option he entertained.

The 35-year-old New Zealander, who competes out of the renowned City Kickboxing gym, revealed that when the injury occurred mid-fight he simply had to adapt and keep moving forward. Ulberg acknowledged that getting hurt inside the cage is an unavoidable reality of the sport, and that fighters must find a way to continue regardless of what their body is telling them. His willingness to push through the setback drew widespread praise for the mental fortitude he displayed on the night.

Ulberg enters this stretch of his career as one of the most dangerous strikers in the light heavyweight division. Ranked third at 205 pounds, he carries a 15-1 record and brings a physical frame to the cage that is difficult to handle — standing six-foot-four at 193 cm tall with a 77-inch reach. His striking output is among the most prolific in the division, averaging 6.54 significant strikes landed per minute at a 55 percent accuracy rate. He throws with both volume and precision, making him a constant threat on the feet throughout all three rounds.

Why it matters

• Ulberg's ability to fight through injury while ranked third at light heavyweight signals he remains a serious title contender.
• His City Kickboxing background is built around disciplined striking, and maintaining output despite physical adversity underlines how deeply those habits are ingrained.
• A gutsy performance under difficult circumstances can shift perception among peers and decision-makers within the division.