Paddy Pimblett praises Ulberg's resilience after comeback win over Prochazka

Paddy Pimblett took to social media following UFC 327 on April 11 to publicly praise Carlos Ulberg after the New Zealander came back from adversity to finish Jiri Prochazka in their light heavyweight clash.

Pimblett, known as "The Baddy," singled out Ulberg's toughness and willingness to keep fighting when things were going against him, paraphrasing a message of respect for Ulberg's refusal to fold under pressure. The Liverpool-born lightweight is ranked sixth in his own division at 23-4-0 and has made a habit of calling out standout performances across the card.

Ulberg, nicknamed "Black Jag," improves to 15-1-0 with the victory, reinforcing his standing as the third-ranked light heavyweight at 35 years old. The City Kickboxing product stands six-foot-four with a 77-inch reach and is among the busier strikers in the division, averaging 6.54 significant strikes per minute at 55 percent accuracy. That the fight saw him hurt before rallying to finish makes the performance all the more notable given his place in a congested title picture.

Prochazka falls to 32-6-1 with the defeat. The Czech Republic knockout artist entered ranked second at 33 years old and carries some of the most eye-catching striking numbers in the weight class, landing 5.69 significant strikes per minute at 55 percent accuracy across an 80-inch reach. A loss to a direct divisional rival keeps him stuck behind the fighters immediately ahead of him in the rankings.

Why it matters

• Ulberg's win over the second-ranked Prochazka strengthens his case as a legitimate title contender at light heavyweight.
• Prochazka's defeat complicates his path back toward championship contention at 185 pounds.
• Pimblett's public praise keeps the City Kickboxing standout in the wider conversation heading into whatever comes next for the division.