On twenty seventh September, the UFC travels to Australia for an exhilarating struggle evening stuffed with motion.
The principle occasion has been confirmed with Carlos Ulberg taking up Dominick Reyes in a Gentle Heavyweight bout.
Each males are on slightly spectacular profitable streaks of their quest to earn the subsequent title shot.
These two contenders have been on a wild journey within the UFC, getting themselves into this present place.
Rise of the Black Jag
Regardless of shedding his UFC debut again in March 2021, Ulberg has continued to climb up the 205-pound division.
The 34-year-old made himself a promising prospect when he earned three consecutive KO/TKO victories.
After a third-round submission win in opposition to Da Woon Jung at UFC 293, it was clear that the New Zealand fighter deserved a ranked opponent subsequent.
At UFC St Louis, Ulberg confronted #11 contender Alonzo Menifield, knocking him out in simply 12 seconds.
The Auckland-born blended martial artist fought six months later, taking up former title challenger Volkan Oezdemir.
At UFC Macau, Ulberg placed on a compelling show to win by unanimous choice and climb up the rankings additional.
Then the precise take a look at got here for the previous kickboxer as he went head-to-head with former UFC Champion, Jan Blachowicz, at UFC London.
In a detailed and contested battle, the Kiwi grew to become victorious by unanimous choice, putting himself in title competition.
Now on an eight-fight profitable streak, a triumph in Australia for Ulberg ought to verify him as the subsequent title challenger.
The Comeback of a former title challenger
If there’s anybody specific who got here near dethroning Jon Jones, it was definitely Reyes.
Actually, at UFC 247, that’s when his downfall began as he simply misplaced by unanimous choice, regardless of many believing he did sufficient to win.
The Californian’s file started to deteriorate after struggling knockout losses to Blachowicz and Jiri Prochazka.
However, ‘The Devastator’ did hit all-time low after a first-round knockout defeat to Ryan Spann at UFC 281.
Nevertheless, since his unlucky loss at Madison Sq. Backyard, Reyes has begun an unimaginable redemption arc.
It began after a 20-month layoff with a first-round knockout win in opposition to Dustin Jacoby at UFC Louisville.
Earlier than continuing to cease Anthony Smith in the identical 12 months by second-round TKO at UFC 310.
The Hesperia-born fighter’s redeeming assertion wasn’t made till UFC 314, knocking out Nikita Krylov within the first spherical.
Now that Reyes is within the high 10 of the Gentle Heavyweight rankings, and a win away from equalling his shedding streak, he has the final word alternative of incomes one other shot at UFC gold.
