Carlos Ulberg shares details about the injury he suffered at UFC 327: 'Unbearable pain'

Carlos Ulberg in victory in UFC Perth (Photo: Instagram/UFC)

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Carlos UlbergIt seems that he will face difficulties returning to the Ultimate Fighting Championship octagon. The New Zealander won Jiri Prochazka in the main fight of UFC 327, held last Saturday (11), but suffered a knee injury during the fight, a situation that could compromise his first title defense.

In an interview with Ariel Helwani, the champion revealed that there is still no definitive diagnosis regarding the severity of the problem. According to Ulberg, he will undergo tests as soon as he arrives in Las Vegas and reported feeling his knee unstable during the fight, as if it were 'coming out of place', also highlighting that the pain was extremely intense.

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“We still don’t know for sure if it’s a torn anterior cruciate ligament. I’ll have the tests done when I get to Vegas… My knee felt like it was going in and out of place… the pain was unbearable,” he said. Carlos Ulberg

Sports doctor explains Carlos Ulberg's injury.

According to sports physician and content creator Brian Sutterer, Ulberg's injury is consistent with an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tear. The specialist explained that the forward movement of the tibia at the moment of the twist, followed by the abrupt return of the bone, evidenced by the calf muscle's undulation, is a classic indication of this type of injury.

"The tibia shifts forward when the ACL is torn, then the calf rippling is when the tibia shifts back," wrote Brian Sutterer.

Tibia shifts forward from ACL being torn, then the calf rippling is when the tibia shifts back https://t.co/mC3KXMS02Q pic.twitter.com/MsfjbZ6peJ

— Brian Sutterer MD (@BrianSuttererMD) April 12, 2026

What is an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tear?

Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) rupture is one of the most frequent orthopedic injuries, especially among athletes. Responsible for stabilizing the knee, the ligament prevents excessive displacement of the tibia relative to the femur and helps control the rotational movements of the joint.

In most cases, the injury occurs without direct contact, being caused by sudden movements, such as abrupt changes of direction with the foot fixed on the ground, rapid decelerations, improper landings after jumps, or even hyperextension of the knee. At the moment of rupture, it is common to hear a popping sound, followed by intense pain, rapid swelling, and a feeling of instability, as if the knee were giving way.

Treatment varies according to the severity and the patient's profile: it can be conservative, with physiotherapy focused on muscle strengthening, or surgical, indicated mainly for athletes, with ligament reconstruction through grafting. Complete recovery, in surgical cases, can take between nine and twelve months.