Carlos Ulberg wins 20th UFC title for Australia and New Zealand region

Carlos Ulberg's championship victory marks the 20th UFC title won by fighters from Australia and New Zealand. The post counts 20 titles despite UFC officially recognizing 19, arguing that Robert Whittaker's rematch with Yoel Romero should count as a title defense since Whittaker made weight even though Romero missed. On a per capita basis, Australia and New Zealand lead all regions with one title per 1.6 million people, ahead of North America, South America, Russia and the CIS, and Western Europe. The region's combat sports success extends beyond MMA to boxing world champions and exceptional Olympic Games performances. Australia finished fourth in the Paris 2024 medal count, while New Zealand ranked 11th despite having only 5 million people. The post attributes these successes to well-developed sports science and cultural infrastructure in both countries.