Carlos Ulberg revealed that quitting never crossed his mind, even after suffering a knee injury in the opening moments of Saturday’s UFC 327 main event against Jiri Prochazka.
Ulberg (14-1 MMA, 10-1 UFC) appeared significantly compromised after his knee popped early in the fight, limiting his mobility and forcing him to adjust on the fly. Despite the setback, he rallied to deliver a stunning knockout victory over Prochazka (32-6-1 MMA, 6-3 UFC), capturing the vacant light heavyweight title.
Speaking at the post-fight press conference, Ulberg emphasized his mindset in the immediate aftermath of the injury.
“It was just... deal with it. Deal with it and see how we can adapt and what we need to do from there,” Ulberg said. “I knew that I never counted myself out of the fight and knew that all I needed was my hands to land.”
Rather than considering the scorecards or the possibility of losing rounds due to his compromised movement, Ulberg said his focus shifted entirely to pressing forward and finding a finish.
“As soon as the leg went out, we knew what we had to try and figure something else out on the fly,” he said. “And I think it was just more about pushing forward. And this is the fight game and these sorts of things happen, and I've already dealt with that.”
Ulberg added that his preparation going into the bout included mentally committing to persevere through adversity, no matter the circumstances.
“I've already said to myself that, whatever happens in that cage, we have to keep going. We have to keep pushing through. Keep going until you get that belt, because nothing is going to stop me from getting it,” he said. “And I heard him saying that throughout the week as well. And, you know, that's what pushed me to do it too.”
