Carlos Ulberg is getting his big chance at the big tables in UFC 303. The fight card took a hit when a light heavyweight bout fell out of place. Jamahal Hill vs. Khalil Rountree remains a spectacular fight on paper. Now, the New Zealander fills in for a suspended Khalil Rountree. He now meets Jamahal Hill in a light-heavyweight bout at UFC 303’s feature co-main.
Khalil Rountree pulled out of his June 29 co-main bout with Jamal Hill at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas due to a failed drug test. His girlfriend, Muay Thai fighter/TV presenter/model Mia Kang, posted the details. She noted the suspension was for dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), illegal in MMA circles. Now, City Kickboxing NZ’s very own Ulberg steps in to face the former 205-pound champ.
Ulberg comes off a highlight win over Alonzo Menifield in UFC St. Louis just two weeks ago. Virtually scar-free, he thus makes a quick rebound. Two close sources confirmed the booking recently to MMA Junkie, speaking on condition of anonymity. The New Zealand Herald reported it early Thursday. This comes as the biggest opportune moment in his career. UFC 303 has already made a projected live gate of $20 million in pre-sales.
After a ten-second highlight win at UFC on ESPN 56, he gets to feature on the card consisting of consensus buyout king Conor McGregor. Consequently, Carlos Ulberg has yearned to fight a big name like Hill for a long time. A clash against Hill is sure to bolster his rankings. When luck comes knocking, it does so in leaps and bounds. What Rountree missed out on might become a game-changer for Ulberg.
UFC: Khalil Rountree’s ban down to 2 months, supplement company error in testing pool
A failed drug test forced Khalil Rountree out of UFC 303, but his suspension is not long. The UFC top brass finds him not completely at fault for the failed testing pool. Hence, the clinical suspension is down to two months. UFC’s anti-doping program accordingly went public on the matter on Wednesday.
Khalil Rountree not at fault, says UFC (Source: Instagram/newshub.co.nz)According to the CSAD, Rountree self-reported that he had accidentally ingested a compounded supplement. A May 4 testing from the Sports Medicine Research and Testing Laboratory (SMRTL) was consistent with Rountree’s claim.
Girlfriend Kang said he took a custom supplement of dehydroepiandrosterone without prior knowledge. The doses Rountree took are not believed to have a significant performance boost, a commonality for fighters. As such, CSAD made a favorable suspension considering Rountree’s cooperation.
CSAD has determined that Rountree’s actions after he determined the error, and the evidence of this case… fit these criteria, and thus…CSAD is reducing the sanction against Rountree to 2 months.
Combat Sports Anti-Doping (CSAD) in an Official Statement release
Concurrently, Carlos Ulberg, 9-1 MMA, 6-1 UFC, is subbing in in his place for UFC 303. The 33-year-old was eyeing a shot at UFC 305 in Perth or UFC Paris. Coincidentally, he follows Steve Erceg as the unlikely opponent from the land down under, making it to the top of the list.
The #11 ranking ‘Black Jag’ faces #3 light-heavyweight Jamahal Hill, who looks to rebound from his title loss to Alex Pereira in April. All in all, the UFC 303 card is subsequently gaining much traction.
