Carlos Ulberg, the current UFC light heavyweight champion, was absent from the promotion's latest pound-for-pound rankings update. This is not without precedent — similar oversights occurred with Dominic Cruz in 2013 due to inactivity, with Jan Blachowitz who waited two and a half months to appear after winning the title at UFC 253, and with Aljamain Sterling who was removed from the P4P list during a period of inactivity before returning after his second win over Petr Yan.
The UFC's latest pound-for-pound rankings update has drawn attention for a notable absence: newly crowned light heavyweight champion Carlos Ulberg was left off the list entirely, despite holding the division's top title as of June 2026.
Ulberg, 35, represents New Zealand and trains out of the renowned City Kickboxing gym in Auckland. The orthodox striker carries a 15-1-0 professional record and competes at 193 cm with a 196 cm reach — a physically imposing presence at the top of the 205-pound division. His output numbers are striking: he lands 6.54 significant strikes per minute at a 55 percent accuracy rate, making him one of the more efficient offensive fighters in the light heavyweight ranks.
The omission is not without precedent in UFC history. A similar situation unfolded with Aljamain Sterling, who was removed from the pound-for-pound list during a period of inactivity before working his way back following his second victory over Petr Yan. Sterling, now 36 and competing at featherweight with a 26-5-0 record, weathered that rankings limbo and remained a fixture in title conversations. Dominic Cruz faced a comparable oversight in 2013 due to inactivity, and Jan Blachowicz waited roughly two and a half months before appearing on the pound-for-pound list after winning the light heavyweight title at UFC 253.
Why it matters
- Ulberg holds the light heavyweight championship yet receives no pound-for-pound recognition in the UFC's current update, creating a visibility gap for the division's titleholder.
- Historical precedents suggest the omission may be temporary, but the timeline for correction remains unclear.
- The oversight raises broader questions about the criteria and consistency the UFC applies when updating its pound-for-pound rankings following title changes.
