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MIAMI, FLORIDA - APRIL 11: Carlos Ulberg of New Zealand reacts after a knockout victory against Jiri Prochazka of the Czech Republic in the UFC light heavyweight championship fight during the UFC 327 event at Kaseya Center on April 11, 2026 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Ed Mulholland/Zuffa LLC)
Carlos Ulberg is starting to get a better idea of how long he could be sidelined after blowing his knee out at UFC 327.
Video highlights from the Jiri Prochazka vs. Carlos Ulberg fight for the vacant light heavyweight title showed Ulberg’s calf snapping back and forth like a torn rubber band, which sports doctors noted was a telltale sign of a torn ACL. Somehow the scrappy New Zealander managed to catch Prochazka with a big left hook that ended the fight before his leg completely gave out. Now he’s sharing how long the recovery period could be following knee surgery.
“Working with the [UFC Performance Institute], the staff here have been amazing,” he said in a new interview. “Just real positive about the progress in rehab.”
"We've got a good formula going, and the body is healing really fast."
Light Heavyweight champion Carlos Ulberg discusses the early days of his recovery from knee surgery and how the rehab process at the UFC PI is going so far.
Read the story here: https://t.co/TquyvcdZ45pic.twitter.com/9op45TNVsC
— UFC News (@UFCNews) April 26, 2026
UFC CEO Dana White noted that Ulberg would be staying in Las Vegas to work with the Performance Institute, and it’s already paid off with quick improvements.
“We went into the surgery thinking this could be between six to eight months or so, longer for some,” Ulberg said. “But, you know, with the progress that we’ve got at the moment, it’s only been a week now and we’re moving pretty good. I think we’ve got a good, formula going, and the body is healing really fast. The doctors are happy, the [PI] staff are happy. It is really nice to be able to work closely with the PI and get the treatment that I need to.”
“In all, I think we are just impressed that the surgery went well. We have done it quickly and promptly and then got on to the rehab as soon as we could. I think it all comes down to the staff being on me about it. We’re doing two a day and yeah, I think we’ll be alright.”
ACL surgery used to be a kiss of death for athletes at worst and a year off at best. These days you hear about pros returning after just six months, and Ulberg is certainly confident that he’s on that fast track to recovery with the close attention of PI staff.
In the past, the UFC has asked light heavyweight champions with bad injuries to relinquish the title to allow the division to move forward. There’s been no hint of that yet, and signs that UFC brass is ready to push Ulberg promotionally through this injury. For example, Carlos popped up during Sunday’s WrestleMania 42 main event (held by UFC sister company WWE) where CM Punk snatched an ula fala flower necklace off him to mock fellow Polynesian Roman Reigns.
Between that show of support and Ulberg’s quick recovery, things are looking a little more stable at 205 than they were just two weeks ago.
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