(SeaPRwire) – Despite suffering a leg injury, Carlos Ulberg refused to let the setback spoil his chance at UFC 327 on Saturday night.
With Donald Trump watching from cageside, Ulberg claimed the light heavyweight championship by knocking out Jiri Prochazka with a precise left hook at the 3:45 mark of the opening round.
“Even with a blown-out knee, I never lost faith,” Ulberg remarked. “I knew I only needed one opening, and I found it. I could tell Jiri was hesitant, and once that left hand connected, it was over.”
“It’s all about capitalizing on those specific moments.”
Ulberg (15-1-0) appeared to injure his right knee early in the first round after an awkward step. Prochazka (32-6-1) responded by targeting Ulberg’s legs with kicks but failed to press for a finish.
“I felt sympathy for him, and that was a major life lesson,” Prochazka admitted. “The victory was mine for the taking, but I let it slip. I will learn from this and return better.”
The championship bout was organized after Alex Pereira vacated the title to pursue an interim heavyweight belt at UFC Freedom 250, which will take place at the White House on June 14, Trump’s 80th birthday.
Before arriving at the venue, Trump promoted the event via his Truth Social account.
Trump arrived at the Kaseya Center shortly after 9 p.m., joined by UFC head Dana White and several family members.
Accompanied by the music of Kid Rock, Trump made his way to a seat near Secretary of State Marco Rubio and U.S. Ambassador to India Sergio Gor.
Trump was seen smiling for cameras, greeting fans, and shaking hands with the broadcast crew, including Joe Rogan.
A crowd gathered to film the arrival of the presidential motorcade at the arena.
In the co-main event, Paulo Costa (16-4-0) secured a TKO victory over Azamat Murzakanov (16-1-0) with a head kick in the third round. Following the win, Costa approached the edge of the Octagon to shake Trump’s hand and later acknowledged the president during his interview with Rogan.
Josh Hokit (9-0-0) defeated Curtis Blaydes (19-6-0) in a bloody unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28). Trump watched intently as the heavyweights traded blows to the cheers of the audience.
Following the fight, Dana White announced on social media that Hokit would face Derrick Lewis at UFC Freedom 250. White noted that the matchup came together after Trump inquired about Lewis’s absence from the upcoming card and Rogan suggested adding Hokit.
“President Trump helped set up one side of the fight, and Rogan handled the other,” White explained in a video. “Both athletes have signed on.”
In light heavyweight action, Dominick Reyes (16-5-0) earned a split decision win (29-28, 28-29, 29-28) against Johnny Walker (22-10-0).
Veteran fighter Cub Swanson (32-14-0) concluded his career with a first-round TKO of Nate Landwehr (18-9-0). The 42-year-old Swanson overwhelmed his opponent with strikes, forcing a stoppage with 54 seconds remaining in the round.
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