- Carlos Ulberg is headlining UFC Fight Night in Perth
Kneeing an opponent during an on-field brawl ended his NRL hopes while an acting career as Batman still remains a pipe dream, but for now Carlos Ulberg has firmly set his sights on snaring the UFC’s light heavyweight crown.
Ulberg will be the star attraction when he headlines Perth’s UFC Fight Night on September 28 at RAC Arena.
The 34-year-old Kiwi, the third-ranked challenger in the division following an eight-fight winning streak, is looking to continue his hot run when he faces American Dominick Reyes (15-4) in Perth.
Ulberg (13-1) has enjoyed a hugely successful UFC career to date, but before that harboured dreams of becoming an NRL star.
Those hopes were shattered when all hell broke loose during a Fox Memorial Cup game in New Zealand while he was playing for the Otahuhu Leopards.
‘We’re coming to the end of the game and a fight breaks out. The whole team is fighting,’ said Ulberg, who played as a second rower, winger or centre.
UFC light heavyweight Carlos Ulberg (pictured) had his NRL dreams shattered when he got into a vicious brawl during a game of rugby league
The Kiwi fighter is pictured right during his time with the Otahuhu Leopards, who he was playing for when the violent incident occurred
The 34-year-old is the headline attraction at the UFC’s upcoming Perth Fight Night
‘People are dropping left, right and centre, and it’s a televised game.
‘I’m throwing knees at one of the guys and just got him in a clinch, and the camera zooms in on me.
‘So everything’s kind of put on me, and I get sent to the judiciary and got banned for eight weeks.’
Just 22 at the time, Ulberg made the decision to quit the sport and take up fighting.
‘That was the end of my career in rugby league,’ he said.
‘I put everything into that season and then it got taken away from me. I went straight to the boxing gym the very next week.
‘I grew up around boxing. My family were boxers. My dad was a boxer – represented Samoa, New Zealand, so it was in the family.’
The UFC quickly caught Ulberg’s eye and he believes he is just one victory away from earning a title shot against current light heavyweight champion Magomed Ankalaev.
‘I have big dreams,’ Ulberg said.
Ulberg is also a former reality TV star, male model and stripper
An eight-fight winning streak has elevated Ulberg to title contention
‘Being the champion is just one mountain, and there’s going to be the next one. So I’m forever climbing them.’
One of those big challenges Ulberg would love to tackle down the track is acting – something he dabbled in during his younger years.
‘I want to be Batman one day. Bruce Wayne,’ Ulberg said with a laugh.
The Kiwi is no stranger to being in front of the camera, appearing on reality TV show Game of Bros in 2018, and also working as a male model and stripper.
But for now, Ulberg wants to put on a show in Perth in front of what is expected to be a bumper crowd.
