Carlos Ulberg vs. Ihor Potieria will go three rounds in the light heavyweight division as a featured undercard attraction on today’s UFC Fight Night card from the Spectrum Center in Charlotte, North Carolina.
Ulberg and Potieira are certainly flawed, but they're exciting fighters who are hoping to stand out in what should be an explosive contest.
UFC odds have Ulberg as a -410 favorite while labeling Potieria as a +330 underdog. Here are our UFC picks and predictions for Ulberg vs. Potieria at UFC Fight Night in Charlotte.
Carlos Ulberg vs Ihor Potieria fight odds
Carlos Ulberg vs Ihor Potieria method of victory odds
| Method of Victory | Carlos Ulberg | Ihor Potieria |
|---|---|---|
| To win by KO/TKO | -175 | +700 |
| To win by Points | +460 | +1,000 |
| To win by Submission | +2,300 | +1,200 |
| Draw | +5,000 | +5,000 |
Odds courtesy of FanDuel Sportsbook on May 11, 2023.
Carlos Ulberg vs Ihor Potieria picks
Click on each prediction to jump to the full analysis.
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Carlos Ulberg vs Ihor Potieria betting preview
Carlos Ulberg is a strong striker coming off first-round knockouts in his last two fights. He’s shown a strong kickboxing arsenal and excellent conditioning in all of his fights for the UFC — including a loss to Kennedy Nzechukwu. On paper, Ulberg looks to have all the advantages.
What we see in Ulberg is that he’s actively improving his game. Nzechukwu beat him simply because he ran out of gas, and he showed in his very next fight against Fabio Cherant he could be effective and go the distance while securing a win. That versatility is going to be the main factor against his limited, but still dangerous opponent.
Ulberg’s path to victory is to limit Potieria’s mobility with body shots and leg kicks. He can’t get overzealous, especially as Potieria has enough power to turn things his way with a clean shot. With no wrestling or grappling to fear from his opponent, all Ulberg needs to do is not get too ahead of himself while working Potieria over.
Ihor Potieria will forever be a footnote to history as the man who retired Mauricio Rua. As bad as Rua was in his old age, there were still some who believed Potieria was vulnerable enough for him to secure a win. That wasn’t the case, as Potieria pounced on Rua and stopped him inside the first round.
There are a lot of rough edges with Potieria, who possesses powerful striking ability but has questionable technique and conditioning. He was a monster on the regional circuits as he won 15 fights in a row, but his UFC performances have left a lot to be desired.
If he is to pull this off, Potieria needs to stay in the pocket and not give Ulberg the distance to throw kicks. Though he’ll likely be in as much trouble on the inside, he can sneak in a big countershot that could close up shop. Both of Potieria’s UFC wins have been first-round knockouts.
Carlos Ulberg vs Ihor Potieria tale of the tape
| Carlos Ulberg | Ihor Potieria | |
|---|---|---|
| 33 | Age | 26 |
| 6-foot-4 | Height | 6-foot-3 |
| 206 lbs | Weight | 205 lbs |
| 77 inches | Reach | 75 inches |
| 7-1 (5 KO) | Record | 19-3 (8 KO) |
Carlos Ulberg vs Ihor Potieria UFC prediction and best bet
Fight prediction: Ulberg ML
I really don’t see this fight going any other way than for Ulberg to win. There is a significant difference in class between them, and Potieria is a clear second in every category to him. The only way we see an upset is if Ulberg gasses out or gets too careless with his offense.
That being said, we’re behind Ulberg to win.
Prediction: Ulberg moneyline (-410 at DraftKings)
Fight best bet: Ulberg by KO/TKO/DQ in Round 1
With his superior striking and conditioning, Ulberg should score a stoppage here. Once these two get started, we’ll see the difference in speed, power, and technique as Potieria gets worked over. Either there will be a knockdown or a takedown, resulting in a ground-and-pound finish for Ulberg.
My best bet is Ulberg winning by KO/TKO/DQ in round 1.
Pick: Ulberg to win by KOTKO/DQ in Round 1 (+180 at FanDuel)
