Carlos
Ulberg has a pitch for how the
Ultimate Fighting Championship should handle the light
heavyweight title mix.

The reigning champion believes none of the division’s top-ranked
contenders have done enough to earn a title shot, so he proposed a
solution, essentially laying out a four-man tournament to determine
his next opponent.

Carlos Ulberg's UFC matchmaking idea targets Magomed Ankalaev,
Jiri Prochazka and more

Ulberg took on the role of a matchmaker and offered some
suggestions for how the top of the division should be matched up to
determine the next title challenger in a new Instagram post. This
came shortly after Magomed
Ankalaev’s win at
UFC Abu Dhabi, where the Kiwi was in attendance.

“After last night’s fights, here’s my thoughts,” Ulberg wrote on
Instagram. “Ankalaev vs. Jiri. Give them both full camps. It’s a
fight the division deserves, and stylistically, it’s one the fans
would love to see. Costa vs. Rountree. That’s a wildcard. High
risk, high reward. Someone’s leaving with serious momentum. By the
time the dust settles, I’ll be ready. Whoever earns it. See you in
2027.”

Ulberg is currently sidelined with an ACL injury he suffered in his
title-winning effort against Jiri
Prochazka in April. “Black Jag†is yet to reveal a timeline for
his return. Notably, UFC CEO Dana
White previously suggested that an interim title could be up
for grabs while Ulberg completes his recovery.

Carlos
Ulberg proposed a couple of matchups to determine the next
contender at LHW. Thoughts? pic.twitter.com/ltvK8vaKMy

— UFC on Paramount+ (@UFConParamount)
July 26, 2026

🚨 Dana White says it's “very possible†we
see a Light Heavyweight interim title fight this year

(via @RobbieBarstool)
pic.twitter.com/G2twIotjJY

— Championship Rounds (@ChampRDS)
July 17, 2026

Magomed
Ankalaev will only take on Paulo Costa
if the Brazilian is ready to bring the fight to him.

The former
Ultimate Fighting Championship light heavyweight titleholder
took on Bogdan
Guskov in the main event of
UFC Abu Dhabi. Guskov had stepped up on two weeks' notice after
Ankalaev's original opponent, Khalil
Rountree, pulled out due to an injury. Ankalaev dominated
Guskov in a slow-paced bout before finishing him in the final round
with ground-and-pound.

Now back in the win column, the Russian has addressed his next
bout.

Magomed Ankalaev says Paulo Costa fight depends on pressure and
forward movement

Ankalaev defended his recent performance against critics who found
it lackluster. He says that Guskov was backing up even though he
kept pressing forward.

“It wasn't up to me whether the fight would be boring or not,â€
Ankalaev told Red Corner MMA. “I was pressing forward, I wanted to
fight. But my opponent started working on the back foot and
constantly running from me. So, then I decided to start wrestling
and finish him on the ground.â€

Costa was among those who found the fight boring, vowing to save
the light heavyweight division from monotony.

“By the power of the Almighty, I shall save this weight class from
monotony and boredom,†Costa wrote on X.

Costa (16-4) is coming off wins over Roman
Kopylov and the previously undefeated Azamat
Murzakanov, labeling himself a “Russian killer†as he sets his
sights on Ankalaev.

“One Russian killer against tedious fights,†he wrote in a
follow-up post.

Ankalaev (21-2) is ready to fight Costa if the former middleweight
title contender comes forward and doesn't constantly remain on the
back foot as Guskov did.

“Costa didn't perform in his division, then moved up, won a single
fight, and got loud,†Ankalaev said. “If he's ready to press
forward, we'll be waiting for him. But if he's going to run and shy
away, I see no point in fighting him.â€

Magomed
Ankalaev responds to criticism that his main event fight with
Bogdan
Guskov wasn’t entertaining, saying he wanted to engage but had
to adjust after Guskov stayed on the back foot. He also responds to
Paulo
Costa's comments about bringing excitement back to the
division,… pic.twitter.com/M3HpHZIaRq

— Red Corner MMA (@RedCorner_MMA)
July 26, 2026

By the power of the Almighty, I shall save
this weighclass from monotony and boredom.

— Paulo
Costa (@BorrachinhaMMA)
July 25, 2026

One Russian killer against tedious fights.
pic.twitter.com/4KHAHhjSfr

— Paulo
Costa (@BorrachinhaMMA)
July 25, 2026

Valter
Walker's teammates love him, and for good reason.

Walker (16-1) has a loud personality that would put many extroverts
to shame. However, the boisterous
Ultimate Fighting Championship heavyweight's teammates, who
aren't men of too many words, absolutely adore him. Walker's
teammate Muhammad
Saidov (10-0) recently revealed a heartwarming story about “The
Foot Hunter.â€

Valter Walker's Gor MMA teammate Muhammad Saidov shares story
of fighter's generosity

Saidov claims Walker snuck money into his kit bag multiple times
when he was going through financial hardship. Walker also bought
protein for Saidov, never letting anyone know about his small acts
of kindness. The unbeaten Russian wholeheartedly loves his
teammate, regardless of his antics.

“I love Valter very much,†Saidov told Red Corner MMA. “Although
his mentality differs from us; he's a very good-natured guy… He is
not selfish at all. He is a very kind and straightforward person… A
friendly and vibrant person, he is always there to help. Even when
I have some financial troubles, he secretly puts cash in my bag. I
would come home from training, take my stuff out to do the laundry,
and find some money in there. Once he bought some protein for me.
And he does those things quietly… I have only got very warm
feelings towards him.â€

Walker's team, Gor
MMA, had a lot of representation at
UFC Abu Dhabi. Saidov started the night well for the team with
a second-round stoppage win over Dustin
Jacoby. Walker followed immediately after, making Thomas
Petersen tap to a calf-slicer in hardly over 90 seconds.

This was Walker’s fifth consecutive submission win. Meanwhile,
Bodgan Guskov led the charge for their gym in a main event clash
against Magomed
Ankalaev. Guskov had stepped up to fight on 14 days' notice but
fell short in a last-round stoppage loss.

“Valter
Walker used to secretly put cash in my gym bag when I needed
money.”

UFC newcomer Magomed
Saidov, who scored a TKO over Dustin
Jacoby in his debut, shares how Valter
Walker quietly helped him during difficult times, revealing the
UFC heavyweight would secretly put money… pic.twitter.com/2rmXtzLBOO

— Red Corner MMA (@RedCorner_MMA)
July 26, 2026