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

Carlos Ulberg's victory marks the 20th UFC title win for Australia and New Zealand, counting the Whittaker-Romero rematch which should have remained a title fight for Whittaker despite Romero missing weight. On a per-capita basis, Australia and New Zealand lead all continents and regions with one UFC title win per 1.6 million people, ahead of North America's one per 2.3 million. The region has also produced multiple boxing world champions including Jay Opetaia, Joseph Parker, George Kambosos, and Tim Tszyu. At the 2024 Paris Olympics, Australia finished fourth in the medal count with 18 gold medals, while New Zealand became the least populated country in the top 20 with 10 total medals. The author attributes these athletic successes to Australia and New Zealand's well-developed sports culture and world-class sports science programs.