Kiwi's wild night after UFC title win in the US

Carlos Ulberg should be in hospital.

Instead, the new Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) light-heavyweight champion is waking up in Miami, Florida, unsure where his belt is, and only just starting to realise the toll of a stunning title win.

Ulberg was born in New Zealand and is of Sāmoan, Māori, and German heritage. His father was a boxer who represented Sāmoa at the Commonwealth Games.

Raised from the age of four by a foster family in South Auckland, Ulberg attended Sir Edmund Hillary Collegiate.

Sport has always been central to his life. He played rugby league as a youngster and went on to represent Counties Manukau at a semi-professional level.

Before his rise in combat sports, he also appeared on reality TV, featuring on Game of Bros in 2018 and twice being offered a role on New Zealand’s The Bachelor.

Alongside fighting, Ulberg has also worked part-time as a model.

It has been less than a day since the Auckland fighter claimed the belt on a damaged right knee, defeating Czech Jiří Procházka in Miami on Sunday (NZT).

Carlos Ulberg during UFC Fight Night at RAC Arena, Perth, Australia in September 2025. Photo/Photosport/Travis Hayto

But while the celebrations have been loud, the concern is growing just as fast.

“I’ve lost the belt, bro,” Ulberg, who has Sāmoan, Māori, and German heritage, says with a smile, speaking from his hotel room. "Ah, I don’t know exactly where it is.

“Initially after winning, the plan was to not have a drink. But you know how these things go, right?

“First, someone gives you a champagne to celebrate. Then one thing leads to another and you’re doing shots.

“So it’s ‘OK, I’ll have another, and another, and another …’”

For Ulberg, it was a night to remember and one that reflects the journey of a fighter who has carried the hopes of many across Aotearoa New Zealand and the Pacific.

Ulberg, right, with NZ boxing champion Joseph Parker at the City Kick Boxing Gym in Auckland in August 2024. Photo/Photosport/David Cornaga

“We’ve got a big group of boys over here in Miami and, when the fight was done, we all went out to the afterparty at a nightclub,” he says.

“Then after that, it was back to one of the boys’ apartments and we all hung out there.

“I didn’t want to be carrying the belt around so I think it’s still there at the apartment somewhere. One of the boys probably has it in bed with him …”

But behind the jokes, there is a more serious reality.

Ulberg won the title fight while carrying what is now believed to be a significant knee injury. And he still has not been checked in hospital.

That raises real questions about what comes next for the new champion.

For fans across Aotearoa and the Pacific, the pride is clear. Ulberg’s rise is another major moment for the region on the global stage, following in the footsteps of fighters who have made their mark in the UFC.

But this moment also comes with uncertainty. Winning a world title is one thing. Staying champion is another especially with a possible long-term injury hanging over him.

For now, Ulberg is still soaking it all in.

The belt may be missing. The celebrations may still be going.

But very soon, attention will turn to his knee and how long the new champion might be out of action.