‘My time will come’… #10 ranked KO artist aims to send a message to Alex Pereira with seventh straight win at UFC Macau

The UFC returns to Macau, China this week for a solid Fight Night card headlined by former bantamweight champion Petr “No Mercy” Yan versus former flyweight king Deiveson “God of War” Figueiredo.

But aside from that fantastic main event, there are several key fights taking place at UFC Macau that MMA fans should keep an eye on; fights that could define potential title challengers in 2025.

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Carlos Ulberg previews his Top 10 matchup with Oezdemir at UFC Macau

Carlos Ulberg, the 10-1 knockout artist and No. 10 ranked light heavyweight contender, returns to action this weekend on the main card of UFC Macau against No. 8 ranked veteran Volkan Oezdemir.

It was a stop-start 2024 for the 'Black Jag', with no fewer than five fights canceled or rescheduled, although the Kiwi finally managed to reach the octagon in May, scoring a brutal first-round knockout against Alonzo Menifield .

With both Ulberg and Oezdemir on the fringes of the Top 5, and the next light heavyweight title likely coming Magomed Ankalaev's way, their upcoming matchup at UFC Macau is certainly not a number one fight.

But as we've seen several times this year with Jiri Prochazka and Khalil Rountree Jr, you may be asked to meet Alex Pereira at a moment's notice – something Ulberg is already well aware of.

'I know it's going to happen, that's true [all] in due time and my time will come,” he told UFC News.

'I know it's not far [away] so this fight is no different he is an experienced fighter and so if I get a good win over Oezdemir it will catapult me ​​high [into the title picture].

“In this division you can be called up for the title at any time, so I'm not surprised either way; Anything can happen and I'm ready for anything to happen next year.”

Ulberg is 10-1 as a professional and 6-1 under the UFC banner, with the 'Black Jag' entering UFC Macau on the back of an excellent six-fight winning streak – each of the last five having ended via devastating finishes.

“I have the confidence in myself because of the hard training I have done over the years, and I know this time would come… I just feel prepared for anything, we are in the Top 10 with fighters who are [very] experienced.”

Yet Oezdemir won't easily turn to Ulberg's title aspirations, with the 20-7 Swiss veteran having scored back-to-back first-round knockouts in his last two fights.

“Oezdemir is a smart fighter and I think he knows this is a good win [for him]a stand-up knockout would put him in title contention,” the New Zealand power-puncher admitted.

“I think he's smart enough to hold it together and just swing for the fences to earn the respect of the fans so he can get that title shot. That's what we're both going for.”

UFC Macau is a rare early morning fight card for MMA fans in the United States, with prelims starting at midnight PT / 3 AM ET before the main card kicks off at 3 AM PT / 6 AM ET on November 23.

“I trust the process, trust myself that I've gotten this far,” Ulberg concluded, before teasing that when he steps back into the octagon on Saturday night, “Everything will fall into place.”

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