Carlos Ulberg Bio
Carlos Sao Murry Ulberg is a New Zealand professional mixed martial artist and former kickboxer who competes in the Light Heavyweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). Fighting out of City Kickboxing in Auckland, Ulberg has built a reputation for fast finishes and steady improvement inside the octagon. As of late March 2025, he was ranked among the top contenders in the UFC light heavyweight division.
Early Life and Background
Carlos Sao Murry Ulberg was born on 17 November 1990 in Auckland, New Zealand. He is of Samoan, Māori, and German descent, and his father represented Samoa as a boxer at the Commonwealth Games, giving Ulberg an early connection to combat sports. After being raised by a foster family in South Auckland from the age of four, he attended Hillary College during his upbringing.
As a child, Ulberg played rugby league, a sport he later pursued at the semi-professional level as a Counties-Manukau representative. The combination of physical contact, discipline, and competition in rugby helped shape the athletic foundation that would later translate into his combat sports career. He has also worked part-time as a model and appeared on the 2018 reality television series Game Of Bros, and was twice offered a role on the New Zealand version of The Bachelor.
Path to MMA
Ulberg transitioned from rugby and kickboxing into mixed martial arts, making his professional debut in 2011 for the King in the Ring, later listed as the King of the Door promotion. In his first professional fight, he faced Kaota Puna and secured a second-round knockout, signaling the kind of finishing ability that would come to define his early career. He continued to develop his striking on the regional New Zealand circuit while training at City Kickboxing, one of the most respected MMA gyms in the Southern Hemisphere.
To broaden his combat sports experience, Ulberg fought in his first and only professional boxing match in August 2015, taking on Daniel Meehan alongside stablemate Sam Rapira. Ulberg won the fight by unanimous decision, adding another discipline to his skill set. His growing reputation in kickboxing, combined with his evolving MMA record, eventually earned him an invitation to Dana White’s Contender Series, the pathway to a UFC contract.
Carlos Ulberg Career
Early Career (2011–2020)
From his 2011 debut onward, Carlos Sao Murry Ulberg competed across New Zealand and Australian regional promotions, compiling a strong record as both a kickboxer and mixed martial artist. Working out of City Kickboxing under head coach Eugene Bareman, he refined a style built on sharp kickboxing fundamentals, patient distance management, and growing grappling confidence. His consistent finishes on the regional scene positioned him as one of the most promising light heavyweight prospects in Oceania.
On 4 November 2020, Ulberg stepped onto Dana White’s Contender Series 34 and faced Bruno Oliveira, delivering a first-round knockout that earned him a UFC contract. That single performance confirmed what regional audiences already knew: Ulberg had the speed, timing, and finishing instincts required for the highest level of the sport.
UFC Breakthrough (2021–2023)
Carlos Sao Murry Ulberg made his UFC debut on 6 March 2021 at UFC 259 against Kennedy Nzechukwu. He started fast with a flurry of strikes, but eventually lost by knockout in the second round. Despite the defeat, the performance was entertaining enough to earn him a Fight of the Night award. The loss became a turning point, motivating a string of finishes across his next several appearances.
Ulberg bounced back at UFC 271 on 12 February 2022, defeating Fabio Cherant by unanimous decision, and followed it with a first-round TKO of Tafon Nchukwi at UFC on ESPN: Tsarukyan vs. Gamrot in June 2022. He then stopped Nicolae Negumereanu in the first round at UFC 281 in November 2022. In May 2023, at UFC on ABC 4, he beat Ihor Potieria by first-round TKO to claim a Performance of the Night bonus, and later that September, at UFC 293, he submitted Da Un Jung via rear-naked choke in round three.
City Kickboxing Era (2024–Present)
Heading into 2024, Carlos Sao Murry Ulberg was building momentum inside the UFC light heavyweight division. A scheduled bout with Dominick Reyes at UFC 297 fell through due to a late injury, and a rearranged meeting at UFC on ESPN 54 was scrapped when Reyes withdrew, only for Alonzo Menifield to step in. The pair was rescheduled once more, and on 11 May 2024, at UFC on ESPN 56, Ulberg knocked out Menifield just twelve seconds into the first round to claim another Performance of the Night bonus. A planned bout with former champion Jamahal Hill at UFC 303 was scrapped when Ulberg withdrew due to injury.
Ulberg returned on 23 November 2024 at UFC Fight Night 248 and outpointed Volkan Oezdemir by unanimous decision, showing he could win going the distance. On 22 March 2025, at UFC Fight Night 255, he added the biggest name to his résumé, defeating former light heavyweight champion Jan Błachowicz by close unanimous decision, with eight of twelve media outlets scoring the bout in his favor. He then headlined UFC Fight Night 260 on 28 September 2025, knocking out former title challenger Dominick Reyes in round one to earn another Performance of the Night award.
Driving Style and Strengths
Carlos Sao Murry Ulberg is a patient, well-rounded light heavyweight whose game is built on crisp kickboxing and increasingly effective grappling. Trained at City Kickboxing, he combines Muay Thai-style striking with steadily improving wrestling and dangerous submission threats off his back. His ability to adapt mid-fight, whether finishing early or grinding out decisions, has made him a difficult matchup for veterans and rising contenders alike.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among Ulberg’s most memorable moments are his twelve-second knockout of Alonzo Menifield, his first-round finish of Dominick Reyes in a UFC main event, and a series of Performance of the Night bonuses that highlight his finishing rate. His unanimous decision win over former champion Jan Błachowicz further established him as a top-tier light heavyweight.
Carlos Ulberg Career Wins
Carlos Sao Murry Ulberg has built a strong professional record with thirteen wins against a single loss, accumulating victories by knockout, submission, and decision. He has earned multiple Performance of the Night bonuses, reflecting his finishing instincts, along with a Fight of the Night award from his UFC debut. The win over Dominick Reyes in a UFC main event marked one of the most important victories of his career to date.
UFC Highlights
Inside the UFC, Ulberg’s most notable wins include a first-round TKO of Tafon Nchukwi, a first-round knockout of Nicolae Negumereanu, a first-round TKO of Ihor Potieria, a third-round submission of Da Un Jung, a twelve-second knockout of Alonzo Menifield, a unanimous decision over Volkan Oezdemir, a unanimous decision over former champion Jan Błachowicz, and a first-round knockout of Dominick Reyes in the main event of UFC Fight Night 260.
Other Wins & Performances
Outside the UFC, Ulberg recorded a second-round knockout over Kaota Puna in his professional MMA debut and a unanimous decision win over Daniel Meehan in his lone professional boxing bout in 2015. His first-round knockout of Bruno Oliveira on Dana White’s Contender Series secured his entry into the UFC.
Carlos Ulberg Family
Family Background and Fighting Lineage
Carlos Sao Murry Ulberg is of Samoan, Māori, and German descent, and his father was a boxer who represented Samoa at the Commonwealth Games. He was raised by a foster family in South Auckland from the age of four. That blend of Polynesian and European heritage, combined with a household rooted in boxing, helped shape his early interest in combat sports.
Personal Life
Ulberg resides in Auckland, New Zealand, where he trains out of City Kickboxing. Beyond his fighting career, he has worked part-time as a model and appeared on the 2018 New Zealand reality series Game Of Bros.
2025 Season Performance
For 2025, Carlos Sao Murry Ulberg continued his climb in the UFC light heavyweight division with one of the most important stretches of his career. On 22 March 2025, he picked up a high-profile unanimous decision win over former champion Jan Błachowicz at UFC Fight Night 255, a result that cemented his standing as a top-five contender. Eight of twelve media outlets scored the bout in Ulberg’s favor, reinforcing the view that he had closed the gap on the division’s elite.
Ulberg then headlined UFC Fight Night 260 on 28 September 2025, stepping up on short notice to face former title challenger Dominick Reyes in the main event. He delivered a first-round knockout to secure another Performance of the Night bonus and push his UFC record to a strong winning mark. With momentum, a deep City Kickboxing support team, and growing confidence, Ulberg entered the back end of 2025 positioned as a legitimate threat for a future light heavyweight title shot.