New UFC Champ Loses Title Belt During Celebration

Carlos Ulberg overcame injury to win light heavyweight title, but misplaced championship belt afterwards.

Apr. 16, 2026 at 1:19pm

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An abstract painting in neon colors and expressive brushstrokes, conveying the intense energy and emotion of a UFC championship fight.The new UFC light heavyweight champion's celebratory revelry is cut short by the embarrassing loss of his hard-earned title belt.NYC Today

Carlos Ulberg, the new UFC light heavyweight champion, says he lost his title belt while celebrating his victory at UFC 327 in New York. Ulberg fought through an injured right knee to capture the championship, but misplaced the belt at some point during the post-fight festivities.

Why it matters

The loss of the championship belt is an embarrassing situation for the new titleholder and the UFC organization. Fighters take great pride in their title belts, which serve as a symbol of their accomplishments. This incident raises questions about security protocols and champion responsibilities at major UFC events.

The details

Ulberg defeated the previous champion, Dominick Reyes, via unanimous decision in the main event of UFC 327 at Madison Square Garden. Despite suffering a right knee injury during the fight, Ulberg was able to outpoint Reyes over five rounds to claim the light heavyweight title. However, at some point after the fight, Ulberg misplaced or lost possession of the championship belt, which is typically presented to the winner in the octagon.

  • Ulberg won the UFC light heavyweight title at UFC 327 on April 15, 2026.
  • The incident of Ulberg losing the title belt occurred immediately following his championship victory.

The players

Carlos Ulberg

The new UFC light heavyweight champion, who overcame an injury to defeat the previous titleholder, Dominick Reyes.

Dominick Reyes

The former UFC light heavyweight champion, who lost his title to Carlos Ulberg at UFC 327.

UFC

The premier mixed martial arts organization that hosted UFC 327, where the light heavyweight title changed hands.

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What they’re saying

“I'm not sure what happened to the belt. One minute it was with me, the next it was gone. I feel terrible about losing it, but I'm still the champ and I'll get a new one.”

— Carlos Ulberg, UFC Light Heavyweight Champion

What’s next

UFC officials will likely investigate the incident and work with Ulberg to locate the missing championship belt. The promotion will also need to arrange for a replacement belt to be presented to the new titleholder.

The takeaway

This embarrassing incident for the new UFC light heavyweight champion highlights the need for tighter security protocols and better champion accountability at major UFC events. Losing the title belt is a significant blunder that the promotion will need to address to maintain the prestige of its championships.