‘I’m coming’: Ulberg posts stunning knockout in PerthJustin ChadwickAAPSun, 28 September 2025 1:18PM
Carlos Ulberg is almost certain to get a crack at the UFC light heavyweight title after scoring a brutal round-one knockout victory over American Dominick Reyes at Perth’s RAC Arena.
After an opening four minutes of very little action, Ulberg sent Reyes to the floor with a fierce one-two combination before pouncing to unleash another two blows while his opponent was on his back to end the contest.
Ulberg, ranked the No.3 challenger in the light heavyweight division, was barely touched during Sunday’s bout, and his nine-fight winning streak means the New Zealander is perfectly placed for a crack at the title.
The light heavyweight belt will go on the line next week when current holder Magomed Ankalaev defends his title against Alex Pereira in Las Vegas.
Ulberg will fly to Vegas to be at the fight in person, and it’s likely he will be scheduled to take on the winner for a shot at the belt.
“I’m coming,” Ulberg declared after Sunday’s win.
“I’m going to be there in the flesh.”
Reyes, a former title contender, had risen to seventh in the rankings on the back of a three-fight winning streak, but he was simply no match for Ulberg.
The American couldn’t land any significant blows, and he was rattled by Ulberg’s jab with two minutes remaining in the round.
But with less than 40 seconds left in the first round Ulberg landed the significant blows, his left-right combination flooring a dazed Reyes, before the referee stepped in to stop the fight as Ulberg started hammering down more blows.
In the co-main event, Australian Jimmy Crute (14-4-2) defeated Croatian Ivan Erslan (14-6) with a first-round rear naked choke submission.
Crute copped a series of early punches, but shone once he took Erslan down and was able to choke his opponent into submission.
“I love it,” Crute said after posting his second consecutive victory.
“I want to go again in February – I hear there’s a show in Sydney. And I want the UFC to come back to Melbourne. Don’t forget about us Dana (White).”
Melbourne’s Jack Jenkins, making his comeback from a snapped thyroid cartilage, won his featherweight bout against Ramon Taveras by unanimous decision.
Taveras failed to make weight by one pound, but Jenkins still decided to go ahead with the fight and he dominated the bout.
Australian Jake Matthews suffered a controversial third-round submission loss to Haitian Neil Magny in their welterweight bout.
The referee stopped the fight just a second before the bell sounded to end round one when Matthews had a struggling Magny in a submission hold.
Magny immediately protested, and the referee allowed the fight to continue.
Matthews dominated round two, but Magny hit back in round three to secure the submission victory.
Australian Tom Nolan scored a first-round submission victory over American Charlie Campbell in their lightweight bout.
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