Carlos Ulberg proposes four-man tournament to fix UFC 205

UFC heavyweight/" class="internal-link text-bone underline decoration-ash/30 hover:decoration-gold underline-offset-2">light heavyweight champion Carlos Ulberg pitched a four-man tournament to sort out his next title challenger while he recovers from knee surgery.

Ulberg posted his plan to Instagram after watching Magomed Ankalaev win at UFC Abu Dhabi, according to Sherdog. The champion suggested pairing Ankalaev against former titleholder Jiri Prochazka, then matching Paulo Costa with Jamahal Rountree in parallel bouts to identify who deserves the next shot.

Ulberg's Instagram post lays out 2027 return timeline

"After last night's fights, here's my thoughts," Ulberg wrote. "Ankalaev vs. Jiri. Give them both full camps. It's a fight the division deserves, and stylistically, it's one the fans would love to see. Costa vs. Rountree. That's a wildcard. High risk, high reward. Someone's leaving with serious momentum. By the time the dust settles, I'll be ready. Whoever earns it. See you in 2027."

Ulberg tore his ACL during the title fight against Prochazka in April and has not announced a return date. UFC CEO Dana White floated the possibility of an interim belt while the New Zealander completes his rehab, per a July interview on Barstool Sports.

The champion's tournament proposal keeps Ankalaev in the mix after his Abu Dhabi win and gives both Prochazka and Costa routes back into title contention. Ulberg is expected to return sometime in 2027 once cleared by doctors.

Reported via:

• Sherdog — UFC champion Carlos Ulberg has plan to fix heavyweight/" class="internal-link text-bone underline decoration-ash/30 hover:decoration-gold underline-offset-2">light heavyweight division