Issue 227

March 2026

Before championship belts were on the line, the world's greatest fighters were locked in their own battles. We delve into the gritty and inspiring MMA origin stories that forged these warriors into the legends they are today.

CARLOS ULBERG – THE ADRENALINE GLADIATOR

Carlos Ulberg was born on November 17, 1990, to parents of Samoan, Māori, and German descent. Ulberg’s early years were marked by instability since he was raised by foster families in South Auckland from the age of four. It was an environment where he admitted he was known for getting into trouble while hanging out on the streets where survival was a daily KPI Speaking to Coconet, he explained what it was like growing up. 

“The way I was brought up you know, how rough it was, it's that's what it is, and that's his life. I mean, there are a lot of people out there who have everything a lot harder than I do. Going from foster care from the age of say about I think it was about four, up to you know, back and forth to about 15 or so I learned a lot from it. And you know going from to different families I guess I learn to adapt. Now you're just pretty much living with a different family, that's all it is. And you'd rather be with a family than on the streets, you know. However hard it might be, whether you're getting beat up by older kids, and that's how I was, you know. I was getting beat up by older kids and within the foster care, but they taught me to be stronger. They taught me to be the person that I am.” 

While he had rough beginnings, they later shaped the boy into the man who would eventually be known as ‘Black Jag,’ which is cool sounding nickname until you realize it was built on a childhood that would chew most people up and spit them out. Like so many New Zealanders, Ulberg’s athletic journey didn’t begin on the mats, but on the rugby pitch, which is basically just MMA with a ball in hand. While he was a standout talent in rugby league, he did receive suspensions for unleashing his skills, maybe too efficiently, during all-in mid-game brawls. While his father had been a boxer who represented Samoa at the Commonwealth Games, the young Ulberg initially thought of fighting as a fun side hustle. Speaking to the NZ Herald, Ulberg reflected on his transition after a friend offered him an MMA fight in 2011. 

“I could've been anywhere. I could've been on the streets still, begging for money. But I'm just thankful I was blessed with some really awesome people later in my life”.

Despite making a successful professional MMA debut at 20, with a second-round knockout, Ulberg stepped away to chase other adventures. Being a good-looking rooster led to a successful side career as a professional model, even resulting in multiple offers to be the lead on The Bachelor New Zealand, which he famously rejected to focus on his athletic goals. Turning down reality TV fame to get punched for a living is either madness or clarity. In Ulberg’s case, it might have been both. He began training at the now-legendary City Kickboxing under Eugene Bareman, building a foundation in kickboxing that led to him becoming a two-time King in the Ring champion in 2017 and 2019. The big turning point came when he realized his true calling was as a professional fighter, spending years honing his skills as a primary sparring partner for teammates like Israel Adesanya. In 2020, when he was 29, Ulberg stepped onto Dana White’s Contender Series and secured a UFC contract with a first-round knockout of Bruno Oliveira. Now a mainstay at the top of the division, he has proven that while he may have started as a street kid, he was always a gladiator at heart.

CURTIS BLAYDES – THE MAT MASTER OF CHICAGO

Curtis Blaydes was born on February 18, 1991, in Naperville, Illinois, but spent most of his childhood in nearby Chicago. With four siblings, Blaydes found his early identity through athletics but was no stranger to the trials of a tough upbringing. Not every fighter comes from chaos, but every fight needs something to fight through. To this end, a significant part of his childhood was marked by a lifelong struggle with stuttering, which initially made him soft-spoken and hesitant to engage in confrontation. His journey toward combat began at the De La Salle Institute, which caters to grades 9 -12, where he first stepped onto the wrestling mat, in a moment he later described as seminal. For Blaydes, wrestling was more of a sanctuary than a sport. Speaking to the De La Salle Institute, he reflected on the impact the team had on his development. 

“As a student at De La Salle, participating on the wrestling team was an escape for me. I was able to do what I loved, and all my worries went away. Those were the best years of my life, and the lessons I learned will forever stay with me.”

On the mat, the quiet kid with the stutter became a dominant force. In his senior year, he achieved an astounding undefeated record of 44-0 and secured the Illinois State Wrestling Title in the 285 lb division. He finished his high school career as the school’s record holder for takedowns, a foundation that would eventually make him the most prolific wrestler in UFC heavyweight history. Turns out, troubles with words, don’t opens up an ease for putting people on their backs. Despite his physical prowess, Blaydes never saw himself as a fighter in the traditional sense. He planned to become a history teacher and only considered MMA after a friend suggested he try boxing to stay active after college. Speaking to Recepta, he said he initially resisted the idea, admitting he disliked confrontation.

“I never fought after school or growing up. Even as a bouncer, I broke up fights, but I never fought. I just wanted to be an athlete and wanted to continue this lifestyle. I wanted to keep hanging out with athletes and keep sweating out here with these guys.”

That desire to stay an athlete eventually won out. After winning an NJCAA National Championship at Harper College, he walked away from his studies to turn pro in 2014. He stepped into the MMA ring for the first time in September 2012, knocking out his opponent in just 13 seconds. Perhaps that was a quick way of saying that maybe teaching history can wait.

MIKE MALOTT – THE PERSISTENT DREAMER

Mike Malott was born on November 7, 1991, in Burlington, Ontario, but was raised in the small town of Waterdown. Growing up with a brother and two sisters, Malott’s athletic path was about as common as it gets for a Canadian kid. Hockey. Cold rinks, early mornings, and the quiet understanding that every second Canuk kid thinks they’re making the NHL. However, by his early teens, he realized he just wasn't that good at it, and a new obsession twinkled in his eye. At the age of 12 or 13, Malott discovered MMA on TV, and says it called to him. His obsession was so intense that he had to hide it from his parents, who didn't allow him to watch the sport. While other kids might have been hiding dirty magazines, Malott was smuggling UFC DVDs from Blockbuster into his house to study them after his parents went to bed. Part of his motivation came from his stature, and speaking to Issuu, he recalled his mindset.

“I felt pretty angry. I guess I had a case of small-man syndrome. One day, I told myself, I’m gonna be able to fight, and no one’s gonna beat me.”

At 14, a martial artist visited his school and told him he was a natural, which probably gave him the spark he needed to pursue the sport seriously. He began training at a local karate gym in Waterdown, which eventually led him to the House of Champions in Stoney Creek. Even as a skinny kid at a private school with no real experience, he would tell his friends he was going to be a UFC champion one day. Speaking with the UFC, he admitted that his confidence was high, even if his self-awareness wasn't.

“I was 17, and I was like, 'They could throw me in the UFC right now, and I'd be fine,' but I was really terrible. I had no self-awareness.”

Malott balanced his training with rugby, hockey, and volleyball in high school before moving to Halifax to pursue a Bachelor of Commerce at Dalhousie University. However, his priorities were clear because he famously admitted he went to the gym more than he went to my classes. He made his professional debut in 2011 while still in university, winning his first three bouts for just $300 each. The stubborn dream of that kid from Waterdown eventually paid off in 2021 when, at age 29, he secured a UFC contract on Dana White’s Contender Series thanks to a 39-second submission. Reflecting on his journey, Malott told the UFC that he often drives by his childhood homes to ground himself.

“I was just some kid in Waterdown, Ontario, Canada with a stubborn dream of fighting in this cage with no proof that I was going to do it.”

And that’s the thing about stubborn dreams. They don’t ask for permission. They just keep showing up until the world has no choice but to catch up.