New UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Carlos Ulberg Misplaces Title Belt After Wild Miami Celebration

Carlos Ulberg achieved his lifelong dream last Saturday night in Miami, disposing of Jiri Prochazka with a knockout blow to claim the UFC Light Heavyweight Championship. But the celebration that followed proved almost as eventful as the fight itself.

Ulberg emerged from UFC 327 at the Kaseya Center with a damaged knee that forced him to fight virtually on one leg after the opening moments. Despite the injury, the New Zealand native managed to finish Prochazka and ascend to the top of the 205-pound division. His postfight celebration, however, introduced a problem he didn't anticipate.

"I've lost the belt, bro," Ulberg admitted to Fox Sports Australia. "I don't know exactly where it is."

The plan after winning, Ulberg explained, was initially to stay away from alcohol and keep a clear head. Those intentions dissolved quickly once the champagne started flowing. One toast led to another, and before long the newly crowned champion was partying with his entourage at a Miami nightclub before retreating to a friend's apartment for an after-hours hangout.

Ulberg decided he didn't want to be hauling the championship belt through a crowded club, so he left it in someone's custody. The problem? He couldn't quite remember whose. The Kiwi slugger suspects one of his training partners may have taken it to bed with them, which offers a logical explanation but doesn't help locate the hardware.

The knee injury remains a growing concern. Ulberg has yet to undergo imaging or receive a formal diagnosis, though speculation suggests a torn ACL that could sideline him for at least a year. He's expected to seek treatment in Las Vegas this week, where doctors will determine the full extent of the damage.

Whether the belt turns up before or after his recovery timeline remains uncertain, but Ulberg seems confident his team will sort it out eventually.