Paddy Pimblett offered his respect to Carlos Ulberg following his comeback victory over Jiri Prochazka at UFC 327. Pimblett emphasized that many fighters would have given up in Ulberg's situation, but instead he continued fighting and secured the win. The comment highlights Ulberg's resilience and mental fortitude during a difficult fight where he suffered a knee injury. Pimblett's reaction reflects widespread appreciation in the MMA community for Ulberg's performance despite fighting injured. The post captures a moment of cross-division respect between UFC fighters.
Paddy Pimblett took to social media following UFC 327 on April 11 to publicly salute Carlos Ulberg after the New Zealander's comeback victory over Jiri Prochazka, making clear that he believes many fighters would have quit in Ulberg's position.
Pimblett, the sixth-ranked lightweight, made his admiration plain by noting that Ulberg continued competing despite suffering a knee injury during the fight. The 31-year-old Liverpudlian carries a 23-4-0 record under the Next Generation MMA Liverpool banner and is no stranger to pressure bouts himself, averaging 5.49 significant strikes per minute over his career.
Ulberg, known as "Black Jag," improved to 15-1-0 with the win and holds the third ranking in the light heavyweight division. The 35-year-old City Kickboxing product stands six-foot-four with a 77-inch reach and leads the division's ranked contenders in striking output, landing 6.54 significant strikes per minute at 55 percent accuracy. Fighting through a knee injury to defeat a former champion underlines the mental resilience Pimblett was referencing.
Prochazka, who entered the contest ranked second at light heavyweight with a 32-6-1 record, represented an enormous challenge for Ulberg. The 33-year-old Czech brings his own prolific striking — 5.69 significant strikes per minute at 55 percent accuracy — along with an unorthodox attacking style out of Jetsaam Gym Brno. A loss drops the former titleholder further from another championship opportunity.
Why it matters
- Ulberg's win over a top-two ranked opponent at 205 pounds strengthens his case as the division's leading contender
- Prochazka's second-ranked status makes this result significant for the light heavyweight title picture
- The cross-division respect from a ranked lightweight amplifies the story's reach across the UFC fanbase
- Fighting through a confirmed knee injury adds an extra layer to Ulberg's already notable performance
Saturday, April 11, 2026
