Carlos Ulberg, the reigning UFC light heavyweight champion, was absent from the promotion's latest pound-for-pound rankings update. Historical precedent exists for the omission: Jan Blachowicz was kept out of the P4P rankings for two and a half months after winning the vacant light heavyweight title at UFC 253 in September 2020, and Dominic Cruz was removed from the rankings due to inactivity following injury in 2013 before eventually being stripped of his bantamweight title.
Carlos Ulberg has claimed the UFC light heavyweight title, yet the promotion's most recent pound-for-pound rankings update was released without the New Zealand champion appearing on the list.
Ulberg, 35, enters the record books with a 15-1 record and now stands as the reigning king of the 205-pound division. Fighting out of City Kickboxing, the six-foot-four orthodox striker carries a 77-inch reach and has been one of the division's most productive offensive fighters, landing 6.54 significant strikes per minute at a 55 percent accuracy rate. His divisional ranking was listed at third before the title win.
The omission is not without precedent. Jan Blachowicz, now 43 and ranked fifth at light heavyweight with a 29-11-2 record, was similarly kept off the pound-for-pound list for two and a half months after capturing the vacant light heavyweight title at UFC 253 in September 2020. The UFC has also previously removed fighters from pound-for-pound consideration due to inactivity, as was the case with Dominic Cruz following injury in 2013.
Why it matters
- Ulberg is the reigning light heavyweight champion but currently holds no pound-for-pound standing despite an active title reign
- The UFC's handling of Blachowicz in 2020 suggests the omission may be temporary rather than a deliberate slight
- How quickly the promotion incorporates Ulberg into the rankings will reflect where the UFC values the 205-pound title in the current fighter hierarchy
- With a 55 percent striking accuracy and high output, Ulberg presents a credible case for a meaningful pound-for-pound placement once the update is made
