Mar 20, 2025; London, United Kingdom; UFC light heavyweight Carlos Ulberg during the media day for UFC Fight Night at O2 Arena. Mandatory Credit: Per Haljestam-Imagn Images

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Carlos Ulberg Makes Strong Plea To Be Named UFC 320 Backup Fighter

Mar 20, 2025; London, United Kingdom; UFC light heavyweight Carlos Ulberg during the media day for UFC Fight Night at O2 Arena. Mandatory Credit: Per Haljestam-Imagn Images

The UFC light heavyweight division is a place where careers can change overnight. One devastating knockout can launch a fighter into title talks, while one bad loss can send them tumbling down the rankings. It’s a brutal business where timing means everything, and right now, Carlos Ulberg believes his timing is perfect. The New Zealand fighter wants to make history by becoming the UFC 320 backup fighter after his stunning first-round knockout of Dominick Reyes at UFC Perth today.

Most fighters would be content to celebrate a career-defining win and wait for their next opportunity. But Ulberg (14-1) has bigger plans than just sitting on the sidelines. He’s riding a nine-fight winning streak that has him knocking on the door of title contention, and he doesn’t want to waste a single moment. While other contenders might play it safe and wait for a guaranteed title shot, Ulberg is ready to roll the dice and potentially make UFC history in the process. His bold request to UFC executive Hunter Campbell shows the kind of confidence that separates champions from also-rans.

Carlos Ulberg Trying To Break Records!

When Ulberg stepped into the cage against Dominick Reyes in Perth, he knew he was facing a former title challenger. Reyes wasn’t just another opponent. He was a stepping stone to greatness. The knockout victory was impressive enough, but what Ulberg did next caught everyone off guard. Instead of basking in the glory of his biggest win, he immediately started lobbying to be the backup fighter for UFC 320’s main event between Magomed Ankalaev and Alex Pereira.

“I was speaking to Hunter just after the fight, I asked him to fly me to Vegas (for UFC 320). I also said then and there, ‘I will be the backup for that fight.’ Am here to break records, man. This is what I want to do.

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Ulberg wants to become the first fighter in UFC history to compete for a title just one week after his previous fight. It’s the kind of record that sounds crazy until fans remember that only one fighter has ever turned around and fought again after just seven days. That was Loopy Godinez back in 2021, but she wasn’t fighting for championship gold. The logistics alone would be a nightmare, but the story would be legendary.

Ulberg’s aspirations got a massive boost when Ankalaev himself expressed interest in facing fresh blood rather than the same old faces. The champion made it clear that he found the Perth main event more interesting than the other title eliminator between Jiri Prochazka and Khalil Rountree. When the champion specifically mentions your name as someone he wants to face, that’s better than any ranking or win streak!

(Image Credit: Per Haljestam – Imagn Images)

Carlos Ulberg

UFC 320

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Zaid Quraishi

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I am a dedicated MMA and Boxing content writer at The Playoffs. I was instantly hooked on MMA after watching the fight between Lyoto Machida vs. Gegard Mousasi back in 2014, and since then, i have been an avid writer with a deep love for the sport and its techniques, providing readers with a thorough understanding of the sport. My favorite aspect of working at The Playoffs is the creative freedom it provides. The diverse range of topics, from listicles and SEO to news articles, keeps me engaged and motivates me to continuously improve my skills! I aim to capture the excitement of the combat sports world in my writing, acting as the middleman between fighters and their die-hard fans. It is kind of like a referee, but with words!