Injured UFC light heavyweight champion Carlos Ulberg says he hopes to return to the Octagon "early next year" as he continues to recover from a knee injury suffered earlier this year.
Ulberg, who defeated Jiří Procházka at UFC 327 in April to win the title, suffered a torn ACL in his right knee during the bout and had reconstructive surgery a week later to repair what he called a "full rupture" of the ligament.
Just four months removed from surgery, Ulberg (15-1-0) is struggling with the necessary inactivity amid his rehab.
"It sucks to be on the sidelines watching the guys," Ulberg said Thursday, where he's attending this week's UFC Fight Night card in Shanghai. "I'm still in the gym watching the guys and also doing my rehab. I'd much prefer to be in the gym, having a push and pull with the boys, but I'm a working man, and I'm doing everything to make sure that as the champion, I get myself back on the mats.
"I'm ready to get myself healthy again so that I can come and defend my title early next year."
Ulberg, in one of the most improbable moments in recent UFC memory, dropped Procházka with a left hook in the first round of their 205-pound title fight just moments after his knee injury occurred during a striking exchange between the two fighters. Ulberg's knee buckled, sending him to the canvas.
Ulberg quickly scrambled to his feet, though visibly compromised. Just when it appeared he was in danger of losing the fight due to the injury, Ulberg landed a perfect left hook that sent Procházka crashing to the canvas. He followed up the knockdown with a series of shots on the ground to secure the sixth knockout of his career.
ACL recoveries typically fall in the time frame of nine to 12 months. Despite his growing impatience, Ulberg is just over four months into his recovery and is not about to risk reinjuring the knee by rushing his rehabilitation process.
"My pure focus is just to get myself healthy, get myself back into the Octagon as soon as I can so that I can, as the champion of the division, you know, you want to make sure that you are healthy, and in good time, you are back to defend your title," Ulberg said. "I want to be back in there, and, like I said, it sucks to be on the sidelines, watching, from the side. But I want to, first and foremost, to be healthy so I don't reinjure myself.
"Right now, it's guarding the ACL, guarding my knee so that when I come back everything is in good order. I know myself, when I come back, I am going to be stronger mentally and physically, for sure. So, the focus is me getting back in the Octagon healthy, better, and also being the champion that I am, traveling, doing the stuff as a champion, showing why I am a good champion for the people."