Newly crowned UFC light heavyweight champion Carlos Ulberg has undergone knee surgery, just days after capturing the belt with a dramatic knockout victory over Jiri Prochazka at UFC 327 in Miami.

Surgery Confirmed via Instagram

The 35-year-old champion posted an update from his hospital bed on Thursday, sharing a photo on his Instagram story with the caption: “Knee surgery done.” The post did not provide any information regarding the specific injury sustained or a recovery timeline.

Hours before the surgery, Ulberg posted a picture of Harry Reid International Airport, indicating that the procedure likely took place in Las Vegas.

How the Injury Occurred

Ulberg and Prochazka fought for the vacant light heavyweight strap after Alex Pereira vacated the title to move up to heavyweight. Early in the fight, Prochazka attempted to chop at Ulberg’s legs with several big leg kick attacks. However, it was a freak injury that saw the New Zealander hobbling on one leg for the majority of the round.

After stepping back on his right leg, Ulberg’s knee visibly popped, and he was almost rendered unable to move. Despite the injury, with just over a minute left in the round, Ulberg scored a sensational knockout after landing a huge left hook.

Recovery Timeline and Next Steps Unclear

Initially, it was feared that Ulberg could be out of action until 2027 after reputable physician Brian Sutterer claimed the injury would keep him out for “a very long time.” Just a few days removed from the fight, Ulberg stated that his knee was still heavily swollen and he was still unable to put any pressure on it. He also revealed at that time that he was scheduled to head to Las Vegas to meet with specialists and have scans.

Ulberg’s coach, Eugene Bareman, attempted to ease worries earlier this week when he claimed that the injury probably isn’t as bad as people think. It remains unclear what the exact extent of the damage to Ulberg’s knee is or what his recovery timeline will be.

No Immediate Rematch for Prochazka

Following the fight, Prochazka claimed he made the mistake of showing mercy to his injured opponent and then paid the price. The claim prompted Ulberg to unload on Prochazka verbally. Ulberg has stated he has no interest in an immediate rematch with Prochazka. Given Ulberg’s injury timeline, it is unclear what the promotion’s next move is or if an interim title will be implemented.

The brutal injury did not stop the 35-year-old from celebrating his title win. At his UFC 327 after-party, Ulberg hilariously admitted that he lost his light heavyweight title.