Paulo Costa warns Carlos Ulberg against 2027 return plans

Carlos Ulberg won the vacant UFC light heavyweight title in April with a devastating first-round knockout of Jiri Prochazka, but a subsequent ACL injury has sidelined the New Zealand champion. Ulberg recently announced plans to return and defend his title in 2027, and took to social media to map out potential matchups in the division, suggesting Magomed Ankalaev face Prochazka and Paulo Costa face Khalil Rountree to set the stage for his comeback.

Paulo Costa, however, dismissed Ulberg's timeline and booking suggestions. The Brazilian light heavyweight, who holds a 16-4 record, responded on social media with skepticism about the champion's 2027 return window. Costa predicted that a new light heavyweight champion will emerge by the end of 2026 and made clear his intention to pursue the title himself.

Costa's challenge arrives as UFC CEO Dana White has previously indicated an interim title may be up for grabs while Ulberg recovers, potentially allowing other contenders to claim gold during the champion's absence. With Ankalaev fresh off a recent win and multiple fighters eyeing the division's top spot, the light heavyweight picture remains volatile and unsettled despite Ulberg holding the official championship.