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Who was next for newly crowned LHW champion Carlos Ulberg? That question was on everyone’s mind last week when Ulberg put former champion Jiri Prochazka to sleep to capture the vacated title. Now, with the event in the books, MMA experts and analysts like Kamaru Usman have already started speculating about the New Zealander’s next opponent.
On his YouTube channel, welterweight legend Kamaru Usman, while speaking with co-host Henry Cejudo on Pound-for-Pound, focused on the next possible LHW title challenger and named top-ranked contender Magomed Ankalaev as Carlos Ulberg’s next opponent.
“Ankalaev versus The Black Jag… I think that’s what’s next. I think that’s what’s next…that’s what’s next. Who else is next?” said Kamaru Usman.
Kamaru Usman believes Magomed Ankalaev is next in line for the light heavyweight title shot 
(via @pound4poundshow ) pic.twitter.com/xq9ixbLTwr
— Red Corner MMA (@RedCorner_MMA) April 13, 2026
‘The Nigerian Nightmare’s comments, however, sparked debate, as Magomed Ankalaev had already sat at No. 1 in the division. At the same time, his pick also drew criticism over possible bias, since ‘Big Ank’ was managed by Ali Abdelaziz, who, in turn, also managed Kamaru Usman.
However, the selection also raised questions, as Ankalaev came off a loss against Alex Pereira in their rematch at UFC 320 back in October. Since then, he had stayed away from active competition, although his Instagram bio still listed him as “UFC light heavyweight champion,” which further fueled uncertainty over whether he had fully accepted the result.
In contrast, Jiri Prochazka continued to push for a rematch after his loss to Carlos Ulberg. In their first-round clash, Ulberg suffered a knee injury while defending a strike from Prochazka. ‘BJP’ later claimed he showed “mercy” by not pressing the attack more in that moment. However, reports suggested ‘The Black Jag’ could miss nearly 12 months because of injury.
What came next for the UFC light heavyweight division after UFC 327?
Recently on X, sports doctor Brian Sutterer broke down Carlos Ulberg’s UFC 327 injury after reviewing the fight footage and analyzing the potential damage. He suggested that ‘The Black Jag’, in turn, could struggle if the fight went beyond the first round.
“The shin popped forward and then the calf rippling you saw was it shifting back into place,” said sports doctor Brian Sutterer on X, “…If this fight goes beyond the 1st round, Ulberg’s knee quickly starts to fill with blood (hemarthrosis), making it likely impossible to continue fighting.”
At first glance, Carlos Ulberg’s injury also resembled an Achilles tendon rupture, which could have potentially sidelined a fighter for nearly a year. Because of that, discussions then shifted toward a possible interim title fight in the LHW division.
Right then, the most likely scenario pointed toward an interim belt clash between Jiri Prochazka and Magomed Ankalaev, as both fighters continued exchanging words on social media. ‘Big Ank’ recently called Prochazka a fake champ, adding more fuel to the rivalry.
However, nothing had been confirmed yet, and the UFC had not made any official announcement. At the same time, names like Paulo Costa and Khalil Rountree Jr. also generated buzz with their rankings and recent performances, adding further depth to the discussion.
So, who did you think should have fought for the interim title if Dana White and company moved forward with the matchup? Drop your pick below.
The post Kamaru Usman Picks UFC Star Managed by Ali Abdelaziz to Face Carlos Ulberg Next appeared first on EssentiallySports.
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