Carlos Ulberg calls for UFC light heavyweight tournament after recent fight
Yahoo Sports • 1 min read • Latest: Jul 26, 2026, 7:00 PM
Last updated Jul 26, 2026
Carlos Ulberg has proposed a tournament format for the UFC light heavyweight division following Magomed Ankalaev's victory over Bogdan Guskov at UFC Abu Dhabi. While Ulberg recovers from a knee injury, he suggests potential matchups, including Ankalaev versus Jiri Prochazka and Paulo Costa against Khalil Rountree. The UFC typically favors individual contender fights over tournaments, but Ulberg's recommendations highlight a need for fresh excitement in the division. The light heavyweight is unsettled with its champion sidelined until 2027, prompting discussions of alternative competitive formats.
- •Magomed Ankalaev defeated Bogdan Guskov at UFC Abu Dhabi by TKO.
- •Carlos Ulberg is out with a knee injury and will return in 2027.
- •Ulberg suggests a tournament instead of an interim title fight.
- •Potential matchups include Ankalaev vs. Prochazka and Costa vs. Rountree.
- •The light heavyweight division is uncertain with no contender fights currently scheduled.
- 12:00 AMYahoo Sports — Coach takes the heat for pulling Khalil Rountree Jr. from UFC Abu Dhabi: ‘Dude, this isn’t a go’
- 7:00 PMYahoo Sports — Carlos Ulberg says forget an interim title fight, how about a UFC light heavyweight tournament instead?
"UFC Abu Dhabi is in the books and while there were a number of great fights and electrifying performances, Magomed Ankalaev’s main event against Bogdan Guskov was not one of them. Ankalaev remains stuck in second gear even when facing a late replacement like Guskov who was effectively teed up for “Big Ank” to destroy. […]
"Magomed Ankalaev may have beaten Bogdan Guskov at UFC Abu Dhabi, but he didn’t do any favors for his reputation as a boring fighter. You can’t really blame “Big Ank” fully for the stinker of a main event with Guskov, who basically stopped fighting halfway through the bout and just played defense. Whoever’s to blame, […]
Sources
External links- Yahoo SportsJul 27, 2026, 12:00 AMCoach takes the heat for pulling Khalil Rountree Jr. from UFC Abu Dhabi: ‘Dude, this isn’t a go’
UFC Abu Dhabi is in the books and while there were a number of great fights and electrifying performances, Magomed Ankalaev’s main event against Bogdan Guskov was not one of them. Ankalaev remains stuck in second gear even when facing a late replacement like Guskov who was effectively teed up for “Big Ank” to destroy. […]
- Yahoo SportsJul 26, 2026, 7:00 PMCarlos Ulberg says forget an interim title fight, how about a UFC light heavyweight tournament instead?
Magomed Ankalaev may have beaten Bogdan Guskov at UFC Abu Dhabi, but he didn’t do any favors for his reputation as a boring fighter. You can’t really blame “Big Ank” fully for the stinker of a main event with Guskov, who basically stopped fighting halfway through the bout and just played defense. Whoever’s to blame, […]
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