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NZ Herald
5 days ago
- Sport
- NZ Herald
Carlos Ulberg's journey from NRL dreams to UFC stardom continues
Carlos Ulberg will meet No 3-ranked light heavyweight Jan Blachowicz in the co-main event at UFC London on Sunday. Listening to articles is free for open-access content—explore other articles or learn more about text-to-speech. Already a subscriber? Sign in here Access to Herald Premium articles require a Premium subscription. Subscribe now to listen. UFC challenger Carlos Ulberg might aspire to the light heavyweight title, but his sporting ambitions were not always in mixed martial arts. The Kiwi fighter, who is set to headline the upcoming Fight Night in Perth, once had dreams of NRL stardom. Ulberg told The Australian Associated Press he initially planned to play rugby professionally until a sporting scrap changed everything. At 22, he played for the Ōtāhuhu Leopards, made the Counties Manukau development squad, and the Warriors coaches had expressed interest in his play. But after the Fox Memorial Cup game broke out in a brawl, Ulberg's future was destabilised in an instant.
The Advertiser
6 days ago
- Sport
- The Advertiser
The knee that ended UFC star Carlos Ulberg's NRL dream
Kneeing an opponent during an on-field brawl ended his NRL hopes while an acting career as Batman still remains a pipe dream, but for now Carlos Ulberg has firmly set his sights on snaring the UFC's light heavyweight crown. Ulberg will be the star attraction when he headlines Perth's UFC Fight Night on September 28 at RAC Arena. Ulberg (13-1) has enjoyed a hugely successful UFC career to date, but before that harboured dreams of becoming an NRL star. Those hopes were shattered when all hell broke loose during a Fox Memorial Cup game in NZ while he was playing for the Otahuhu Leopards. "We're coming to the end of the game and a fight breaks out. The whole team is fighting," said Ulberg, who played as a second rower, winger or centre. "People are dropping left, right and centre, and it's a televised game. "I'm throwing knees at one of the guys and just got him in a clinch, and the camera zooms in on me. "So everything's kind of put on me, and I get sent to the judiciary and got banned for eight weeks." Just 22 at the time, Ulberg made the decision to quit the sport and take up fighting. "That was the end of my career in rugby league," he said. "I put everything into that season and then it got taken away from me. I went straight to the boxing gym the very next week. "I grew up around boxing. My family were boxers. My dad was a boxer - represented Samoa, New Zealand, so it was in the family." The UFC quickly caught Ulberg's eye and he believes he is just one victory away from earning a title shot against current light heavyweight champion Magomed Ankalaev. "I have big dreams," Ulberg said. "Being the champion is just one mountain, and there's going to be the next one. So I'm forever climbing them." One of those big challenges Ulberg would love to tackle down the track is acting - something he dabbled in during his younger years. "I want to be Batman one day. Bruce Wayne," Ulberg said with a laugh. But for now, Ulberg wants to put on a show in Perth in front of what is expected to be a bumper crowd. Kneeing an opponent during an on-field brawl ended his NRL hopes while an acting career as Batman still remains a pipe dream, but for now Carlos Ulberg has firmly set his sights on snaring the UFC's light heavyweight crown. Ulberg will be the star attraction when he headlines Perth's UFC Fight Night on September 28 at RAC Arena. Ulberg (13-1) has enjoyed a hugely successful UFC career to date, but before that harboured dreams of becoming an NRL star. Those hopes were shattered when all hell broke loose during a Fox Memorial Cup game in NZ while he was playing for the Otahuhu Leopards. "We're coming to the end of the game and a fight breaks out. The whole team is fighting," said Ulberg, who played as a second rower, winger or centre. "People are dropping left, right and centre, and it's a televised game. "I'm throwing knees at one of the guys and just got him in a clinch, and the camera zooms in on me. "So everything's kind of put on me, and I get sent to the judiciary and got banned for eight weeks." Just 22 at the time, Ulberg made the decision to quit the sport and take up fighting. "That was the end of my career in rugby league," he said. "I put everything into that season and then it got taken away from me. I went straight to the boxing gym the very next week. "I grew up around boxing. My family were boxers. My dad was a boxer - represented Samoa, New Zealand, so it was in the family." The UFC quickly caught Ulberg's eye and he believes he is just one victory away from earning a title shot against current light heavyweight champion Magomed Ankalaev. "I have big dreams," Ulberg said. "Being the champion is just one mountain, and there's going to be the next one. So I'm forever climbing them." One of those big challenges Ulberg would love to tackle down the track is acting - something he dabbled in during his younger years. "I want to be Batman one day. Bruce Wayne," Ulberg said with a laugh. But for now, Ulberg wants to put on a show in Perth in front of what is expected to be a bumper crowd. Kneeing an opponent during an on-field brawl ended his NRL hopes while an acting career as Batman still remains a pipe dream, but for now Carlos Ulberg has firmly set his sights on snaring the UFC's light heavyweight crown. Ulberg will be the star attraction when he headlines Perth's UFC Fight Night on September 28 at RAC Arena. Ulberg (13-1) has enjoyed a hugely successful UFC career to date, but before that harboured dreams of becoming an NRL star. Those hopes were shattered when all hell broke loose during a Fox Memorial Cup game in NZ while he was playing for the Otahuhu Leopards. "We're coming to the end of the game and a fight breaks out. The whole team is fighting," said Ulberg, who played as a second rower, winger or centre. "People are dropping left, right and centre, and it's a televised game. "I'm throwing knees at one of the guys and just got him in a clinch, and the camera zooms in on me. "So everything's kind of put on me, and I get sent to the judiciary and got banned for eight weeks." Just 22 at the time, Ulberg made the decision to quit the sport and take up fighting. "That was the end of my career in rugby league," he said. "I put everything into that season and then it got taken away from me. I went straight to the boxing gym the very next week. "I grew up around boxing. My family were boxers. My dad was a boxer - represented Samoa, New Zealand, so it was in the family." The UFC quickly caught Ulberg's eye and he believes he is just one victory away from earning a title shot against current light heavyweight champion Magomed Ankalaev. "I have big dreams," Ulberg said. "Being the champion is just one mountain, and there's going to be the next one. So I'm forever climbing them." One of those big challenges Ulberg would love to tackle down the track is acting - something he dabbled in during his younger years. "I want to be Batman one day. Bruce Wayne," Ulberg said with a laugh. But for now, Ulberg wants to put on a show in Perth in front of what is expected to be a bumper crowd.
West Australian
6 days ago
- Sport
- West Australian
The knee that ended UFC star Carlos Ulberg's NRL dream
Kneeing an opponent during an on-field brawl ended his NRL hopes while an acting career as Batman still remains a pipe dream, but for now Carlos Ulberg has firmly set his sights on snaring the UFC's light heavyweight crown. Ulberg will be the star attraction when he headlines Perth's UFC Fight Night on September 28 at RAC Arena. The 34-year-old Kiwi, the third-ranked challenger in the division following an eight-fight winning streak, is looking to continue his hot run when he faces American Dominick Reyes (15-4) in Perth. Ulberg (13-1) has enjoyed a hugely successful UFC career to date, but before that harboured dreams of becoming an NRL star. Those hopes were shattered when all hell broke loose during a Fox Memorial Cup game in NZ while he was playing for the Otahuhu Leopards. "We're coming to the end of the game and a fight breaks out. The whole team is fighting," said Ulberg, who played as a second rower, winger or centre. "People are dropping left, right and centre, and it's a televised game. "I'm throwing knees at one of the guys and just got him in a clinch, and the camera zooms in on me. "So everything's kind of put on me, and I get sent to the judiciary and got banned for eight weeks." Just 22 at the time, Ulberg made the decision to quit the sport and take up fighting. "That was the end of my career in rugby league," he said. "I put everything into that season and then it got taken away from me. I went straight to the boxing gym the very next week. "I grew up around boxing. My family were boxers. My dad was a boxer - represented Samoa, New Zealand, so it was in the family." The UFC quickly caught Ulberg's eye and he believes he is just one victory away from earning a title shot against current light heavyweight champion Magomed Ankalaev. "I have big dreams," Ulberg said. "Being the champion is just one mountain, and there's going to be the next one. So I'm forever climbing them." One of those big challenges Ulberg would love to tackle down the track is acting - something he dabbled in during his younger years. "I want to be Batman one day. Bruce Wayne," Ulberg said with a laugh. But for now, Ulberg wants to put on a show in Perth in front of what is expected to be a bumper crowd.
Perth Now
6 days ago
- Sport
- Perth Now
The knee that ended UFC star Carlos Ulberg's NRL dream
Kneeing an opponent during an on-field brawl ended his NRL hopes while an acting career as Batman still remains a pipe dream, but for now Carlos Ulberg has firmly set his sights on snaring the UFC's light heavyweight crown. Ulberg will be the star attraction when he headlines Perth's UFC Fight Night on September 28 at RAC Arena. The 34-year-old Kiwi, the third-ranked challenger in the division following an eight-fight winning streak, is looking to continue his hot run when he faces American Dominick Reyes (15-4) in Perth. Ulberg (13-1) has enjoyed a hugely successful UFC career to date, but before that harboured dreams of becoming an NRL star. Those hopes were shattered when all hell broke loose during a Fox Memorial Cup game in NZ while he was playing for the Otahuhu Leopards. "We're coming to the end of the game and a fight breaks out. The whole team is fighting," said Ulberg, who played as a second rower, winger or centre. "People are dropping left, right and centre, and it's a televised game. "I'm throwing knees at one of the guys and just got him in a clinch, and the camera zooms in on me. "So everything's kind of put on me, and I get sent to the judiciary and got banned for eight weeks." Just 22 at the time, Ulberg made the decision to quit the sport and take up fighting. "That was the end of my career in rugby league," he said. "I put everything into that season and then it got taken away from me. I went straight to the boxing gym the very next week. "I grew up around boxing. My family were boxers. My dad was a boxer - represented Samoa, New Zealand, so it was in the family." The UFC quickly caught Ulberg's eye and he believes he is just one victory away from earning a title shot against current light heavyweight champion Magomed Ankalaev. "I have big dreams," Ulberg said. "Being the champion is just one mountain, and there's going to be the next one. So I'm forever climbing them." One of those big challenges Ulberg would love to tackle down the track is acting - something he dabbled in during his younger years. "I want to be Batman one day. Bruce Wayne," Ulberg said with a laugh. But for now, Ulberg wants to put on a show in Perth in front of what is expected to be a bumper crowd.
