Carlos Ulberg's victory has brought the 20th UFC championship to Australia and New Zealand combined, making the region the world leader in titles per capita. The analysis counts 20 titles including the disputed Whittaker vs. Romero rematch, which should have remained a title fight for Whittaker despite Romero missing weight. Australia and New Zealand now have 1 title per 1.6 million population, surpassing North America's 1 per 2.3 million. The region's combat sports success extends beyond MMA to boxing, with current and former world champions including Jay Opetaia, Joseph Parker, George Kambosos, and Tim Tsu. Additionally, Australia ranked 4th in the 2024 Paris Olympics with 18 gold medals, while New Zealand placed 11th with 10 medals despite having only 5 million people. The post attributes these achievements to Australia and New Zealand having built a rational cultural life and possessing world-class sports science programs.
