Ulberg wins on one leg

Carlos Ulberg won the Ultimate Fighting Championship light heavyweight belt on April 11 after his right knee buckled in the first round and he still knocked out Jiri Prochazka in Miami. (espn.com) The finish came at 3:45 of Round 1 in the main event of UFC 327 at Kaseya Center, where Ulberg’s record moved to 15-1-0 and Prochazka’s fell to 32-6-1. (espn.com) Ulberg’s knee gave way as he stepped back during a striking exchange, and he slipped again after throwing a head kick before landing the left hook that ended the fight. Ulberg said afterward, “I blew out my knee, but I never counted myself out.” (espn.com) The title was vacant when the cage door closed. Prochazka had been trying to regain the belt he vacated in 2022, and Ulberg entered as the New Zealand contender from City Kickboxing. (sports.yahoo.com) The result changed the top of the 205-pound division in one punch. ESPN’s fight stats showed Ulberg outlanding Prochazka 21-11 before the stoppage, and ESPN said only Alex Pereira and Muhammed Lawal had previously knocked Prochazka out. (espn.com) Prochazka said he saw the injury and eased up. “I felt mercy in that fight,” he said, adding that he thought the bout was won before Ulberg’s counter landed. (espn.com) The card in Miami also produced other stoppages and upsets. The Ultimate Fighting Championship’s official recap listed Paulo Costa’s knockout of Azamat Murzakanov, Cub Swanson’s retirement after a first-round stoppage, and Josh Hokit’s win over Curtis Blaydes among the night’s biggest results. (ufc.com) Ulberg left with the belt and a damaged knee, and Ultimate Fighting Championship chief executive Dana White said Saturday night he did not have an update on the injury. Ulberg’s own summary was shorter: “I’m the champion.” (espn.com)