Carlos
Ulberg has emerged as an intriguing talent in the Ultimate
Fighting Championship’s light heavyweight division.
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The 32-year-old Auckland, New Zealand, native earned his fifth
consecutive triumph at UFC 293,
as he submitted Da Woon
Jung 4:49 into Round 3 of their featured bout at Qudos Bank
Arena in Sydney on Saturday night. The fight initially made it to
the final horn, but after a video review, it was determined that
Jung tapped to a rear-naked choke in the waning seconds.
“I felt the tap,” Ulberg said in an interview with the UFC.
“I knew he tapped somehow. I heard my coaches yell out that he was
tapping. I thought that he went out, but he continued to fight. I’m
glad that the fight ended so quickly, and the way that it did was
amazing.”
After defeating his previous three opponents by knockout or
technical knockout, Ulberg was able to earn his first career
submission victory against a veteran opponent.
“I’ve seen how he takes down his opponents, and I did it with his
own move and finished him the way I did,” Ulberg said. “That
rear-naked choke was just a bonus, that was the icing on the
cake.”
After the victory, “Black Jag” called out Dominick
Reyes for his next Octagon appearance.
“I went through quite a bit of adversity this whole camp. And to
get that win was nice, especially over an opponent like Jung,”
Ulberg said. “He’s a complete fighter, and I thought I needed that
test. To move forward, I need another test. Someone who’s been five
rounds, who’s held the belt. This is a good test for me.”
While Reyes hasn’t actually held a UFC title, he’s fought for the
strap on two occasions, falling to Jon Jones and
Jan
Blachowicz. While “The Devastator” is currently mired in a
four-bout losing streak, Ulberg points to Reyes’ highly-competitive
fight against Jones as evidence that the Californian will provide
the type of test he desires.
“I’m always watching the division,” Ulberg said. “I think with
Reyes being the fighter that he is and going the distance with
Jon
Jones, I think this will be a massive step up for me. I want to
be tested every time I hope into the Octagon. I know I will grow
every time.”