Carlos Ulberg Names Ideal Next Fight for Magomed Ankalaev Following UFC Abu Dhabi

Magomed Ankalaev might have closed the show with a fifth-round stoppage of Bogdan Guskov at UFC Abu Dhabi, but champion Carlos Ulberg isn’t quite impressed with his performance. 

The reigning UFC Light Heavyweight Champion watched the former titleholder earn his way back into the conversation while continuing his own recovery from a torn ACL. Rather than showering “Big Ank” with praise, Ulberg offered a measured response, suggesting he had learned everything he needed from the performance. 

Hours later, the New Zealander expanded on his thoughts, laying out the fights he believes should shape the division before he returns to defend his throne early in 2027.

Carlos Ulberg Maps Out Light Heavyweight Division after UFC Abu Dhabi

The 35-year-old didn't waste much time sharing his thoughts once the dust settled in Abu Dhabi. Talking to social media, the champion outlined what he believes should happen next at 205 lbs, and noticeably left himself out of the immediate title picture.

According to the Kiwi, the next fight to make is Ankalaev against former champion, “The Czech Samurai” Jirí Procházka.

Reflecting on the same, he posted on Instagram, "Ankalaev vs. Jiří. Give them both a full camp. It's a fight the division deserves, and stylistically it's one the fans would love to see." Rather than pushing for an interim title or rushing his own return, Ulberg argued for a matchup that he feels naturally fits the division while he's sidelined.

In addition, he also had another intriguing suggestion - "Costa vs. Rountree. That's the wildcard. High risk, high reward. Someone's leaving with serious momentum."

The matchup would pit two of the division's most dangerous strikers against one another, with the winner potentially emerging as another viable challenger by the time the champion is back on his feet from his injury.

Ulberg then wrapped up his post with a confident message, noting, "By the time the dust settles... I'll be ready. Whoever earns it. See you in 2027. God is Great."

Rather than calling for a specific opponent, Ulberg appears to let the division sort itself out. For now, his focus remains on returning healthy, confident that the right challenger will emerge while he's away.

Ulberg Says He “Saw What I Needed To See” After Ankalaev’s Win

Before posting on social media, Ulberg was interviewed cageside following Ankalaev's victory over Guskov. His reaction was brief but telling.

"Congrats to Ankalaev," he commended the Russian for his win. "I saw what I needed to see. And I will do everything that I need to do to make sure I get back in there."

While he stopped short of criticizing Ankalaev's (22-2-1, 1NC) performance, Ulberg hardly sounded impressed. Instead, his comments suggested that the former champion's showing reinforced his own belief that the light heavyweight division still lacks a dominant force.

Carlos Ulberg Focused on Recovery

When asked about his return timeline, Ulberg (15-1-0) set the record straight, stating that his priority is to stay disciplined throughout his rehabilitation rather than rush back into competition.

"I'm just making sure that I can do everything that I need to do and keep tabs on my injury. We're looking at early next year, so 2027 if you're playing it smart."

The UFC champion has been recovering from the torn ACL he suffered after capturing the vacant light heavyweight title against Prochazka (32-6-1) earlier this year. Since then, questions have continued to swirl around whether the promotion will introduce an interim championship while he's on the shelf.

For Ulberg, however, the timetable hasn't changed. He is working closely with the UFC Performance Institute and intends to return only when he's fully recovered, even if that means remaining out until early 2027.

If anything, his latest comments also suggest he's already looking beyond Ankalaev's win over Guskov. Instead of viewing Saturday's result as an immediate threat, “Black Jag” appears content to let contenders battle it out while he continues his recovery.