Carlos Ulberg reveals severe knee injury from Prochazka fight

Carlos Ulberg has opened up about the serious knee injury he suffered during his light heavyweight bout against Jiri Prochazka at UFC 327 on April 11, revealing that the damage left him barely able to stand or walk in the immediate aftermath.

The 35-year-old New Zealander, known as "Black Jag" and training out of City Kickboxing, described a harrowing experience inside the cage — feeling his knee repeatedly shifting in and out of the joint while he fought through unbearable pain. Ranked third in the light heavyweight division with a record of 15-1-0, Ulberg is among the more prolific strikers in the 205-pound class, averaging 6.54 significant strikes per minute at 55 percent accuracy. His knee is currently swollen and a suspected ACL tear is being investigated, with a confirmed diagnosis expected this week. A full ACL recovery typically takes between nine and twelve months.

Prochazka, the second-ranked light heavyweight at 33 years old, brought his own considerable striking threat to the matchup. The Czech fighter out of Jetsaam Gym Brno carries a 32-6-1 record and lands 5.69 significant strikes per minute at 55 percent accuracy, with a reach of 80 inches — a notable physical advantage over Ulberg's 77-inch reach across a fight contested between two fighters standing six-foot-three and six-foot-four respectively.

Why it matters

• An ACL tear would sideline Ulberg for the better part of a year, stalling the momentum of a fighter who had climbed to third in a loaded division
• Ulberg's absence removes a top contender from the light heavyweight picture at a time when the title situation remains active
• The injury underscores the physical toll of trading with Prochazka, one of the most high-output strikers in the weight class