Carlos Ulberg won't fight again this year. The UFC light heavyweight champion tore his ACL and is targeting an early 2025 return to the Octagon, according to the champion himself.
The injury sidelined Ulberg from competition, forcing the promotion to manage the vacant title picture while its champion recovers. The timeline puts him at least several months away from stepping back into the cage. Ulberg gave no specifics on which month he's eyeing, just the vague "early next year" window that leaves room for adjustment depending on his rehabilitation progress.
This is standard recovery talk from an injured fighter hoping to stay relevant. Whether Ulberg actually makes early 2025 depends entirely on how his knee responds to treatment and whether the medical staff clears him before any scheduled title fight. The UFC will likely line up interim championship action or a separate main event rather than hold the light heavyweight division in complete stasis for six months.