Carlos Ulberg targets 2027 return after ACL injury

Carlos
Ulberg isn’t rushing his return to the Octagon.

The reigning
Ultimate Fighting Championship light heavyweight titleholder
provided an update on his recovery from an ACL injury following

UFC Abu Dhabi, revealing that he is targeting an early 2027
return to action.

Carlos Ulberg discusses ACL recovery and UFC light heavyweight
title plans

Ulberg suffered the injury in his title-winning knockout victory
over Jiri
Prochazka earlier this year. He recently emphasized that he
does not want to risk any further injury and hence plans to take
his time. In a recent interview with UFC’s Charly Arnolt, “Black
Jag” gave an update on his injury.

“I’m just making sure I do everything I need to keep on task with
my injury, but then also just been working closely with the UFC PI
and make sure I can get back in there as quickly as possible, but
also as safely as possible,” Ulberg said. “We’re looking at early
next year, so 2027 if we’re being smart, so we don’t come in too
early and re-injure ourselves.”

Ulberg was in attendance at Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi and saw
former champion Magomed
Ankalaev return to the win column, defeating Bogdan
Guskov in the main event. During the same interview, the Kiwi
champion also commented on Ankalaev’s win.

“Congrats to Ankalaev,” he added. “I saw what I needed to see, and
I’ll make sure I do everything I can to get back in there. The
division is a little shaky at the moment. No one is very dominant
at the moment. I saw what I needed to see. I’ll leave it at that.
I’ve always seen Ankalaev as a top contender. So, he’s definitely
one of the guys that will be up next as well.”

Ulberg later took to social media to pitch matchups for the
205-pound title mix, suggesting Ankalaev fight Prochazka and
Paulo
Costa take on Khalil
Rountree to determine who deserves the next title shot.

Carlos
Ulberg gives his thoughts about what he saw in the
#UFCAbuDhabi main event 👀

[ LIVE on @ParamountPlus
] pic.twitter.com/lU0ls5ArZ9—
UFC on Paramount+ (@UFConParamount)
July 25, 2026

Carlos
Ulberg proposed a couple of matchups to determine the next
contender at LHW. Thoughts? pic.twitter.com/ltvK8vaKMy— UFC on
Paramount+ (@UFConParamount)
July 26, 2026