Former UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya has backed his City Kickboxing teammate Carlos “Black Jag” Ulberg, calling for the light heavyweight contender to receive the next title shot.
In a recent Youtube video posted to his channel, Adesanya made it clear that Ulberg is deserving of his place in the title conversation.
“Black Jag is next in line,” Adesanya said.
“He’s on a streak right now. He just beat the former champ, he’s next in line, bar none, end of story.”
Ulberg has been on a great run in the division after suffering an early setback in his UFC debut. Making his first walk to the Octagon with only four professional mixed martial arts bouts under his belt, the Auckland native was stopped by Kennedy Nzechukwu.
Since then, Ulberg has built an eight-fight win streak. The most recent of those was over former champion and mutual opponent of Adesanya, Poland’s Jan Blachowicz.
That victory elevated him to number three in the UFC light heavyweight rankings and many pundits believe that he has done enough to fight the current champion, Magomed Ankalaev.
“It’s not my decision but I think if they know what’s good,” Adesanya said, referring to UFC matchmakers.
“He beat the former champion, he’s in a good position.”
If the names on his resume weren’t enough to convince UFC brass of Ulberg’s merit, “The Last Stylebender” also teased some behind-the-scenes details which would make “Black Jag’s” achievements even more impressive.
“Breaking news, Carlos has fought the last how many fights with, [redacted]” Adesanya said, beeping out the next few words to presumably avoid disclosing an injury or impediment that his teammate has been dealing with.
“He’s been in there with the best and knocked some of them out,”
“He also went to town with Jan [Blachowicz] so he’s next in line after the rematch.”
Adesanya’s endorsement of Ulberg may be enough to convince the mixed martial arts world that he’s ready to fight for the belt.
However, after a contentious last title fight between current champion, Ankalaev, and former champion Alex “Poatan” Pereira at UFC 313, Dana White and company might be going in a different direction.
Both fighters have discussed the possibility of a rematch in the aftermath of that event, which Adesanya had referred to in his video. Should that be the case, Ulberg may be forced to put his career on hold while he allows the division to work itself out.
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