The Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) light heavyweight champion, Carlos Ulberg, suffered a major knee injury during his championship bout at UFC 327. The injury, which could be a serious ligament rupture, did not deter Ulberg from continuing the fight, as he managed to knock out Jiri Prochazka and claim the vacant belt. Ulberg has already undergone surgery and is currently recovering, with his timetable for a return to the Octagon unknown. This is not an isolated incident, as former lightweight champion Rafael dos Anjos also suffered a similar ACL injury in his last outing, succumbing to the knee injury 90 seconds into his UFC 308 contest with Geoff Neal in 2024. Dos Anjos, who has not fought since that October night nearly 18 months ago, has had a challenging recovery process, with incorrect decisions made by his attending doctors exacerbating his situation. He has undergone three surgeries and is now fully recovering, with plans to return to the Octagon in July or August of this year. Dos Anjos, a well-traveled fighter with a desire to make his 50th professional start, has faced many of the biggest names in the sport across two divisions. While finalizing his recovery process from his left knee, he is opening his first academy in Austin, Texas, taking advantage of his injuries to focus on his business and pass on his knowledge of jiu-jitsu, MMA, and kickboxing. The location holds a special significance for him, as his first UFC victory was in Houston, and he won his belt in Dallas. The academy is already generating a huge demand, with many people purchasing memberships, and is set to open by June.
