Carlos Ulberg has tremendous respect for UFC light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira, and hopes that one day he can share the octagon with “Poatan.”
Ulberg returns to action this Saturday against one-time title challenger Volkan Oezdemir at UFC Macau. The surging 205-pound contender has been blown away by what Pereira has accomplished as champion with three title-defending knockouts.
“Super, just superhuman,” Ulberg told MMA Fighting. “I feel like the time is endless for this guy. He’s a champion, a true warrior, and nothing but respect for the guy, and this is the true reason why I feel like I want to fight someone like him, because it doesn’t matter if he has the title or not.
“I definitely want to fight Pereira, for sure, purely because I feel like he’s earned his his way into being a great champion.”
Ulberg competed in May at UFC St. Louis and knocked out Alonzo Menifield in just 12 seconds. The City Kickboxing standout was scheduled to compete at UFC 303 a little over a month later against former champ Jamahal Hill, a fight that if Ulberg were to win, may have gotten him a title fight. Unfortunately, Hill withdrew due to injury, as did Ulberg, who had to step aside from a replacement fight with Anthony Smith.
That’s just fine with Ulberg, as the missed opportunity just wasn’t meant to be at the time.
“We’re in title contention talk right now already,” Ulberg said. “We had the opportunity with Jamahal Hill that fell through, obviously, but we’re here. We’re in this top 10 now, so now it’s just a chessboard. It’s just playing your chess, or playing the cards, and right now, myself and Volkan are at that hot seat, where a lot of the other guys, some of them have had the opportunity [at the title] or kind of just making their way through, as well.
“At any given moment, where I can see it, it’s coming a little closer now. I’m seeing it clearer now, and the vision is opening up a little more for me to see it. So after this fight, God willing, everything happens the way we plan it to go, then we’re looking at possibly getting a call up [for a title shot]. But, hey, in due time. I’m ready for whatever, but then, also, you got to look at guys that have earned that spot as well, where you have guys like [Magomed] Ankalaev, who may also get that opportunity. Fine. If he has the title at that time, whether it be himself or Pereira, then whoever is the man at the point, then that’s the guy I want. But whatever road it takes, nothing’s going to stop me.”
Oezdemir has stopped his past two opponents, Bogdan Guskov and Johnny Walker, as he’s quietly put himself in an interesting spot in the division. Ulberg understands what a win over a past championship challenger could mean for him. That’s why he’s preparing to do something special against a dangerous opponent.
“You expect the unexpected,” Ulberg said. “You never know what could happen. Hey, the light heavyweight division, you’ve got guys with heavyweight power, and they could move athletically, so anything can happen.
“That said, yes, ‘No Time,’ he may come in swinging where he’s got the power to do so, and the track record. He will come in with confidence, but hey, I do have some tricks up my own sleeve that I’m willing to try. So whether he’s willing to go to the ground or the stand up, I feel like the fans are definitely in for a treat.”
