Carlos Ulberg has come out second best in a wild back-and-forth fight with Kennedy Nzechukwu at UFC 259 in Las Vegas.
Ulberg had a mountain of hype behind him as the latest prospect to join the UFC ranks from New Zealand’s City Kickboxing. Ulberg joined the promotion after picking up a first-round KO win on Dana White’s Contender Series late last year.
It looked like Ulberg was going to repeat those efforts, battering Nzechukwu in the opening exchanges of the first round. Ulberg was smooth and calculated landing shots to the body and head of Nzechukwu while the Nigerian covered up and failed to return fire. Ulberg even landed a huge head kick that appeared to stun Nzechukwu.
After an initial barrage, however, Ulberg started to slow down and Nzechukwu started to pick up the pace, pressuring Ulberg and landing shots of his own.
A slugfest ensued in the second round with both fighters having their moments as they stood right in front of each other and traded punches. Ulberg was the visibly more tired fighter however and Nzechukwu landed a huge right hook, putting the City Kickboxing fighter on his backside before the ref was forced to wave off the fight.
COMEBACK SEASON.
Nzechukwu knocks out Ulberg! 😱
📺📱 #UFC259: Early prelims are live on @UFCFightPass pic.twitter.com/ftr2zOmY8B
— UFC_AUSNZ (@UFC_AUSNZ) March 7, 2021
The loss was Ulberg’s first of his professional MMA career.
Ulberg’s City Kickboxing teammates Kai-Kara France and Israel Adesanya are set to fight later in the card.
