Carlos Ulberg disclosed that he aimed for a first-round knockout because his corner was considering stopping the fight between rounds due to an injury he sustained. Ulberg stated he knew he had to finish Prochazka in the opening frame and began hitting harder than usual to secure the victory. The revelation adds context to his aggressive approach in the fight. The nature and severity of the injury that concerned his corner was not specified in the statement.
Carlos Ulberg has revealed that an undisclosed injury nearly prompted his corner to stop his fight against Jiri Prochazka between rounds, forcing him to pursue a first-round finish or risk not continuing.
Speaking after the bout, Ulberg said he knew the opening round had to be decisive. He described deliberately hitting harder than he normally would, driven by the knowledge that his corner was weighing whether to pull him from the fight. The nature and severity of the injury were not detailed in his statement.
Ulberg, known as "Black Jag," enters the post-fight conversation as one of the more compelling figures in the light heavyweight division. The 35-year-old New Zealander, who trains out of City Kickboxing, carries a 15-1-0 record and holds the number-three divisional ranking. At 193 cm tall with a 196 cm reach, he is a physically imposing presence, and his output backs that up — he lands 6.54 significant strikes per minute at 55 percent accuracy, numbers that reflect sustained pressure rather than wild swinging.
His opponent, Jiri Prochazka, is no easier a target than his reputation suggests. The 33-year-old Czech holds a 32-6-1 record and is ranked second in the division. Competing out of Jetsaam Gym Brno, Prochazka stands six-foot-three with an 80-inch reach and lands 5.69 significant strikes per minute at the same 55 percent accuracy rate — a fighter whose danger compounds with every passing minute.
Why it matters
- Ulberg's disclosure reframes what looked like an aggressive game plan as a decision shaped by physical necessity
- A win over the number-two ranked Prochazka significantly strengthens Ulberg's case as a title contender from the third spot
- The matchup pitted two high-output orthodox strikers against each other, making Ulberg's urgency in the first round all the more critical to his chances
