In his dream scenario, Kiwi mixed martial arts exponent Carlos Ulberg sees himself fight for a UFC crown sometime in 2025, against an opponent already well known within his City Kickboxing fraternity.
On Saturday, Ulberg puts his six-fight unbeaten run on the line against Swiss Volkan Oezdemir, who has accumulated a fearsome reputation as a knockout specialist, finishing 15 of his 20 career victories early.
On the eve of that bout, the 'Black Jag' dares to look beyond his opponent to where his own pathway may lead over the next 12 months.
"With a win over Volkan, you could see us in contention for the title, for sure," he told Chinese internet personality Helen Yee. "That's where we want to be, with the light-heavyweight division being so exciting, because of the champion right now, who is a warrior.
"He's done so many great things as a champion and you have guys like Jon Jones calling him out, so he's a hot topic and everyone wants to be in the hot seat.
"If we come out of this fight with a good win, that could make the bosses happy."
The man in that hot seat is none other than Brazilian Alex Pereira, who debuted in the Ultimate Fighting Championship as a middleweight and wasted little time dethroning Ulberg's training partner, Israel Adesanya, for that belt. He had to hand it back five months later, before graduating up to a more natural heavier weight division.
Since then, he has become one of the promotion's superstars, taking the title with a knockout win and defending it three times since.
"My goal is to definitely get the title, definitely be the champion," said Ulberg. "Whoever's got the title at that given time... and in due time, I'll get my opportunity.
"I know it's there and I know it's getting closer and close, and inching closer as time goes on. Next year, definitely, we'll get that chance."
Ulberg hopes Pereira will be his opponent.
"I think that would be a big sellout," he said. "That would be the ultimate fight that the fans would like to see — two big knockout artists, warriors, jaguar spirits up against each other.
"He deserves it, he deserves to be where he is. If he can maintain that title, that would be awesome."
Ranked eighth — two spots above Ulberg — Oezdemir represents another step towards that goal. Since joining the UFC in 2017, he has amassed an 8-6 record and fought American Daniel Cormier for the light-heavyweight title in 2018, falling by technical knockout in the second round.
His most recent outing resulted in a first-round knockout over Brazilian Johnny Walker at Riyadh, taking Performance of the Night honours.
"He's a tough task, he's a mountain," admitted Ulberg. "He's been there with some of the best guys in the game, so it's going to be a good one and will love this one.
"To do it in front of a big Chinese crowd will be amazing."
Ulberg is still serving his apprenticeship at this level and that rise has been stalled somewhat by fights that have never taken place, due to injuries to him or his opponents.
After accounting for Korean Da Un Jung in September 2023, he was scheduled to face Mexican American Dominick Reyes, a seasoned campaigner with two title challenges to his resume, but that meeting has twice been called off. Instead, Ulberg demolished American Alonzo Menifield in just 12 seconds in May.
He was supposed to take on former champion Jamahal HIll in June, but Hill withdrew, replaced by Anthony Smith, then Ulberg pulled out a week before the fight.
"A lot of stop-start during my camps, but here we are now," he said.
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