The UFC returns to Macau, China, this week for a solid Fight Night card headlined by former bantamweight champion Petr ‘No Mercy’ Yan versus former flyweight king Deiveson ‘God of War’ Figueiredo.
Yet aside from that fantastic main event, there are several key fights taking place at UFC Macau that MMA fans should keep an eye on; fights that could determine potential title challengers in 2025.
Carlos Ulberg previews his Top 10 clash with Oezdemir at UFC Macau
10-1 knockout artist and #10 ranked light heavyweight contender Carlos Ulberg returns to action this weekend on the main card of UFC Macau against #8 ranked veteran, Volkan Oezdemir.
It’s been a stop-start 2024 for the ‘Black Jag’ with a whopping five fights being canceled or rescheduled, albeit when the Kiwi did finally manage to make it to the octagon in May, he scored a brutal first-round knockout over Alonzo Menifield.
With both Ulberg and Oezdemir sitting on the periphery of the Top 5, and the next light heavyweight title shot likely heading Magomed Ankalaev’s way, their upcoming clash at UFC Macau is by no means a number one contender’s fight.
However, as we’ve seen multiple times already this year with Jiri Prochazka and Khalil Rountree Jr, you might be asked to face Alex Pereira at a moment’s notice – something that Ulberg is already well aware of.
“I know it’s going to happen, it’s [all] in due time and my time will come,” he told UFC News.
“I know that’s not far [away] so this fight is no different, he’s an experienced fighter and so if I get a good win over Oezdemir, it catapults me high [into the title picture].
“In this division, at any point, you could be called up for the title so I’m not surprised either way; anything can happen and I’m ready for anything to happen next year.”
Ulberg is 10-1 as a professional and 6-1 under the UFC banner, with the ‘Black Jag’ riding into UFC Macau on the back of an outstanding six-fight winning streak – the last five of which have each ended via devastating finish.
“I have the confidence within myself because of the hard training I’ve been doing over the years, and I know this time was going to come… I just feel prepared for everything, we’re in the Top 10 with fighters who are [very] experienced.”
Yet Oezdemir won’t simply roll over and into Ulberg’s title aspirations, with the 20-7 Swiss veteran having scored back-to-back first-round knockouts in his last two fights.
“Oezdemir is a smart fighter, and I think he knows that a good win [for him], a stand-up knockout would put him in title contention,” admitted the New Zealand power-puncher.
“I think he’s smart enough to keep it standing, and just swing for the fences to earn the fans’ respect so that he can get that title shot – we’re both going to be going for that.”
UFC Macau is a rare early morning fight card for MMA fans in the United States, with the prelims starting from midnight PT / 3 AM ET before the main card gets underway at 3 AM PT / 6 AM ET on November 23.
“I trust the process, trust myself that I’ve got myself this far,” concluded Ulberg, before teasing that when he steps back into the octagon on Saturday evening, “Everything’s going to fall into place.”
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