Carlos Ulberg

Carlos Ulberg, nicknamed "Black Jag," is a New Zealand fighter of Samoan, Māori, and German heritage who competes in the light heavyweight division.

Born and raised in Auckland, Ulberg spent much of his childhood in a South Auckland foster family. He first pursued rugby league at the semi-professional level before turning to combat sports, drawn to the individual nature of fighting. He joined City Kickboxing in Auckland, training under head coach Eugene Bareman alongside a roster of standout fighters that has included Israel Adesanya, developing his craft at one of the sport's most respected gyms before signing with the UFC.

Before transitioning to mixed martial arts, Ulberg built a decorated kickboxing career, compiling a 19-2 record and winning two King in the Ring tournament titles. He earned his UFC contract through Dana White's Contender Series, carrying his striking pedigree into a professional MMA career.

Ulberg is best known as a dynamic, power-punching striker who draws directly on his kickboxing background. Standing tall with a long reach for the division, he uses distance, timing, and heavy hands to hurt opponents early, and he has shown a willingness to mix in grappling exchanges, including leg attacks, when fights go to the mat. His finishing instincts and ability to close the show once an opponent is hurt have become a hallmark of his UFC run.

Fighting out of City Kickboxing, Ulberg has scored notable UFC wins over Dominick Reyes and Jan Błachowicz, and delivered one of the fastest knockouts in light heavyweight history against Alonzo Menifield. He captured the UFC Light Heavyweight Championship with a first-round knockout of Jiří Procházka at UFC 327, becoming the first New Zealand-born fighter to win a UFC championship.

Ulberg's rise from foster care and rugby league in South Auckland to UFC gold has made him a symbol of City Kickboxing's global success and a source of pride for New Zealand and Pacific Island MMA fans. He is regarded as one of the most fearsome finishers in the light heavyweight ranks and stands among the division's defining champions of his era.