Mixed martial artist Carlos Ulberg is confident a UFC title shot awaits, should he overcome former light heavyweight champion Jan Blachowicz in this morning's fight night card in London.
Ulberg is riding a seven-fight win streak, while Blachowicz will step into the octagon for the first time since July 2023.
Kiwi UFC fighter Navajo Stirling joined D'Arcy Waldegrave to preview the local King in the Ring series this weekend and discuss Ulberg's biggest fight yet.
LISTEN ABOVE
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:06):
You're listening to the All Sport Breakfast podcast with Darcy
Waldgrave from News Talk SEDB.
Speaker 2 (00:11):
It's nineteen after seven o'clock in the morning. High good
morning to you. Coming up tonight event Fighters Stadium is
a long time, wonderful series. It's called King in the
Ring and a number of athletes have gone on to
great things in UFC started their career at King in
the Ring. It's happening. It's an eight man knockout series.
(00:34):
You just got to keep fighting till the last man
is standing. A man who's been there, done that is
Navajo Sterling. He joins us now to preview the evening.
Speaker 3 (00:43):
Good morning, Navajo, morning morning. Thank you for having me.
Speaker 2 (00:46):
On another big night of King in the Ring. This
is I wouldn't say legendary, but it's getting close, isn't it.
When it comes preparing young New Zealand fighters to step
up and step on the checklist of champions out of this,
They've gone on to great things, haven't they. This really
maybe it is legendary.
Speaker 3 (01:05):
Yeah, yeah, I think it is. I think it is.
And people should know now that this is a legitimate
promotion with legitimate fighters, and yeah, it's like a it's
like a platform to showcase the New Zealand and who
the next guy is. You know, everyone wants to get behind.
Speaker 2 (01:25):
There's been a lot of big names and I remember
when the Broken Native turned up and I think he,
I don't know, three different divisions in half an hour.
It was outrageous. But it's not only him. Other fighters
have been through it as well. What's your experience King
of the Ring Navajo.
Speaker 3 (01:43):
Yeah, yeah, well that was where I made my name
and was winning that twice and using that pathway to
eventually getting to the UFC. And you've seen it before
with Dan Hooker, Carlos Solberg, Blood Diamond Israel Tisna like.
(02:03):
It's a preven, proven method and I think, yeah, it
just goes to show that we are very good fighters
and the striking art on the side of the world.
Speaker 2 (02:16):
It's brutal and this is not full UFC. This is
basically kickboxing, isn't it. Yes, yeah, kickboxing, no grappling, and
I know some people get all up at your grappling.
I don't mind that at all. It's all part of
the way it goes. But this is stand and deliver
and over. It's an eliminator. So you've got to fight
all night. Tell me what it's like when you get
(02:37):
to the final and how gassed you are, because I'm
presuming you to let everything go. You can't leave any
in reserve just in case you get beaten up.
Speaker 3 (02:45):
Yeah, you gotta. You got to deal with that. And
you're getting the you're getting multiple adrenaline dumps through the night,
and eventually you just get used to it. Come by
the by the final and whatever energy you have left,
you're ready to leave it all out there and show
it on what you got because it's just one you've done.
(03:05):
If you done it two times already, you know you
can do it one more time. So yeah, it's it's
a brutal night. It almost feels like something off of
the movie Blood Sport or something like that, you know,
like it's it's like a movie, you know when you're
when you're fighting on the ape.
Speaker 2 (03:23):
Man, it's not like three hundred spot in sanity. So
who do we like tonight? You've got a bidfield or
to be sitting around well to waits an't we?
Speaker 3 (03:33):
Yeah? Yeah, So it's a seventy two kilo division. They've
got saran Colin Braddock pick title. John Henderson Daniel Druwanga
who was I think he made it to the made
(03:53):
it to the final and probably could have won won
the final in the weight division below, so I'd say
he'd be a whole favorite to potentially win this just
having their experience. But yeah, there's so many good names,
so it's so very hard to look at who's going
to win.
Speaker 2 (04:12):
Any of your stable mates? There any city kickboxing.
Speaker 3 (04:15):
Fighters, No, no, so this time around there is no
one from my gym, so I've only seen these guys
on the local circuit. They're very big names everyone in
this on this card, so yeah, it'll be interesting to
see who wins. I wouldn't be able to say who
(04:36):
I'm picking up, but I definitely think Surround maybe pick
you out and Daniel Ruana will be up there in
the top top three for me.
Speaker 2 (04:45):
And what about yourself? Where are you at the moment
as far as your UFC career goes?
Speaker 1 (04:51):
Like?
Speaker 2 (04:51):
You want to know who? So you're unbeaten so far,
but what happens now? Rankings wise? Your next fight? What
are we looking at? Yeah?
Speaker 3 (04:58):
Yep, so my next fight's in Montreal, Canada, May ten,
so I'm about eight weeks out deep in the fight
camp myself. Yeah, I'm looking to punch out a lot
of fights this year and hopefully you get all wins.
And I basically want to break out as the prospect
of the year for twenty twenty five. And yeah, kind
(05:21):
of set my name in place for the UFC for everyone.
I know who I am.
Speaker 2 (05:26):
And when you say punch out, you're right, you will
be punching right out. And look another one of your
stable mates in fact light heavyweight as well, your division,
and you talk about him a fair Carlos Uberg is
fighting this weekend against the Umberhowitz. That's a massive scrap,
isn't it.
Speaker 3 (05:43):
Yeah, massive for him as well, especially I think he's
been people are overlooking him. He's had it quiet, He's
gone the quiet road up the rankings in the LiH
heavyweight division. I think he's not getting this credit he deserves.
And yeah, it's kind of I couldn't believe how many
(06:03):
people are like going against him for the fight, especially
him coming off seven straight back to back wins, you know,
sometimes not even coming out of the first round. Yeah,
I'm eager to see how it goes and potentially be
looking at a title shot after this one. If it's
a big emphatic win. I think he's letting everyone know
(06:25):
he's here to stay.
Speaker 2 (06:26):
And I think he is. And I know you shouldn't
really focus on one fight, but I'll never forget Alonso
and the twelve second seal. Later power and that should
be I suppose throbbing through the minds of everyone who's
going to take more band.
Speaker 3 (06:40):
He's got power exactly, speed on speed and power.
Speaker 2 (06:44):
So last question before we let you go and never hostedling.
Always a pleasure to have you on the program. You guys,
SPA's who's dominant.
Speaker 3 (06:52):
Yeah, yeah, we spy the time. We're just kind of
going back and forth. He's probably got like a little
bit more experience than me. But yeah, man, it's good
to have someone like him to butt heads with in
the gym because with with someone like that, you're always
gonna try and get one over each other and constantly
and getting one one one over each other. It's just
(07:14):
gonna eventually make you much larger and much better in
the bigger picture. So, yeah, we're very fortunate to have
each other as training partners, and yeah, we have a
very competitive mindset, but you know, it's all love at
the end of the day and yeah, we we enjoy
the training.
Speaker 2 (07:34):
That's what I like to hear. It's all about the
love ta tan ata heat tana. Besides what you do professionally,
you will get on which is great.
Speaker 1 (07:43):
Hey.
Speaker 2 (07:43):
Enjoy your night tonight now promises to be huge, Get
amongst and we'll catch you before you get on the
plane and disappear off to Canada. All right.
Speaker 3 (07:53):
See thank you.
Speaker 1 (07:54):
For more from the All Sport Breakfast with Darcy Watergrave,
listen live to News Talk set Be on Saturday mornings,
or follow the podcast on iHeartRadio.
You're listening to the All Sport Breakfast podcast with Darcy
Waldgrave from News Talk SEDB.
Speaker 2 (00:11):
It's nineteen after seven o'clock in the morning. High good
morning to you. Coming up tonight event Fighters Stadium is
a long time, wonderful series. It's called King in the
Ring and a number of athletes have gone on to
great things in UFC started their career at King in
the Ring. It's happening. It's an eight man knockout series.
(00:34):
You just got to keep fighting till the last man
is standing. A man who's been there, done that is
Navajo Sterling. He joins us now to preview the evening.
Speaker 3 (00:43):
Good morning, Navajo, morning morning. Thank you for having me.
Speaker 2 (00:46):
On another big night of King in the Ring. This
is I wouldn't say legendary, but it's getting close, isn't it.
When it comes preparing young New Zealand fighters to step
up and step on the checklist of champions out of this,
They've gone on to great things, haven't they. This really
maybe it is legendary.
Speaker 3 (01:05):
Yeah, yeah, I think it is. I think it is.
And people should know now that this is a legitimate
promotion with legitimate fighters, and yeah, it's like a it's
like a platform to showcase the New Zealand and who
the next guy is. You know, everyone wants to get behind.
Speaker 2 (01:25):
There's been a lot of big names and I remember
when the Broken Native turned up and I think he,
I don't know, three different divisions in half an hour.
It was outrageous. But it's not only him. Other fighters
have been through it as well. What's your experience King
of the Ring Navajo.
Speaker 3 (01:43):
Yeah, yeah, well that was where I made my name
and was winning that twice and using that pathway to
eventually getting to the UFC. And you've seen it before
with Dan Hooker, Carlos Solberg, Blood Diamond Israel Tisna like.
(02:03):
It's a preven, proven method and I think, yeah, it
just goes to show that we are very good fighters
and the striking art on the side of the world.
Speaker 2 (02:16):
It's brutal and this is not full UFC. This is
basically kickboxing, isn't it. Yes, yeah, kickboxing, no grappling, and
I know some people get all up at your grappling.
I don't mind that at all. It's all part of
the way it goes. But this is stand and deliver
and over. It's an eliminator. So you've got to fight
all night. Tell me what it's like when you get
(02:37):
to the final and how gassed you are, because I'm
presuming you to let everything go. You can't leave any
in reserve just in case you get beaten up.
Speaker 3 (02:45):
Yeah, you gotta. You got to deal with that. And
you're getting the you're getting multiple adrenaline dumps through the night,
and eventually you just get used to it. Come by
the by the final and whatever energy you have left,
you're ready to leave it all out there and show
it on what you got because it's just one you've done.
(03:05):
If you done it two times already, you know you
can do it one more time. So yeah, it's it's
a brutal night. It almost feels like something off of
the movie Blood Sport or something like that, you know,
like it's it's like a movie, you know when you're
when you're fighting on the ape.
Speaker 2 (03:23):
Man, it's not like three hundred spot in sanity. So
who do we like tonight? You've got a bidfield or
to be sitting around well to waits an't we?
Speaker 3 (03:33):
Yeah? Yeah, So it's a seventy two kilo division. They've
got saran Colin Braddock pick title. John Henderson Daniel Druwanga
who was I think he made it to the made
(03:53):
it to the final and probably could have won won
the final in the weight division below, so I'd say
he'd be a whole favorite to potentially win this just
having their experience. But yeah, there's so many good names,
so it's so very hard to look at who's going
to win.
Speaker 2 (04:12):
Any of your stable mates? There any city kickboxing.
Speaker 3 (04:15):
Fighters, No, no, so this time around there is no
one from my gym, so I've only seen these guys
on the local circuit. They're very big names everyone in
this on this card, so yeah, it'll be interesting to
see who wins. I wouldn't be able to say who
(04:36):
I'm picking up, but I definitely think Surround maybe pick
you out and Daniel Ruana will be up there in
the top top three for me.
Speaker 2 (04:45):
And what about yourself? Where are you at the moment
as far as your UFC career goes?
Speaker 1 (04:51):
Like?
Speaker 2 (04:51):
You want to know who? So you're unbeaten so far,
but what happens now? Rankings wise? Your next fight? What
are we looking at? Yeah?
Speaker 3 (04:58):
Yep, so my next fight's in Montreal, Canada, May ten,
so I'm about eight weeks out deep in the fight
camp myself. Yeah, I'm looking to punch out a lot
of fights this year and hopefully you get all wins.
And I basically want to break out as the prospect
of the year for twenty twenty five. And yeah, kind
(05:21):
of set my name in place for the UFC for everyone.
I know who I am.
Speaker 2 (05:26):
And when you say punch out, you're right, you will
be punching right out. And look another one of your
stable mates in fact light heavyweight as well, your division,
and you talk about him a fair Carlos Uberg is
fighting this weekend against the Umberhowitz. That's a massive scrap,
isn't it.
Speaker 3 (05:43):
Yeah, massive for him as well, especially I think he's
been people are overlooking him. He's had it quiet, He's
gone the quiet road up the rankings in the LiH
heavyweight division. I think he's not getting this credit he deserves.
And yeah, it's kind of I couldn't believe how many
(06:03):
people are like going against him for the fight, especially
him coming off seven straight back to back wins, you know,
sometimes not even coming out of the first round. Yeah,
I'm eager to see how it goes and potentially be
looking at a title shot after this one. If it's
a big emphatic win. I think he's letting everyone know
(06:25):
he's here to stay.
Speaker 2 (06:26):
And I think he is. And I know you shouldn't
really focus on one fight, but I'll never forget Alonso
and the twelve second seal. Later power and that should
be I suppose throbbing through the minds of everyone who's
going to take more band.
Speaker 3 (06:40):
He's got power exactly, speed on speed and power.
Speaker 2 (06:44):
So last question before we let you go and never hostedling.
Always a pleasure to have you on the program. You guys,
SPA's who's dominant.
Speaker 3 (06:52):
Yeah, yeah, we spy the time. We're just kind of
going back and forth. He's probably got like a little
bit more experience than me. But yeah, man, it's good
to have someone like him to butt heads with in
the gym because with with someone like that, you're always
gonna try and get one over each other and constantly
and getting one one one over each other. It's just
(07:14):
gonna eventually make you much larger and much better in
the bigger picture. So, yeah, we're very fortunate to have
each other as training partners, and yeah, we have a
very competitive mindset, but you know, it's all love at
the end of the day and yeah, we we enjoy
the training.
Speaker 2 (07:34):
That's what I like to hear. It's all about the
love ta tan ata heat tana. Besides what you do professionally,
you will get on which is great.
Speaker 1 (07:43):
Hey.
Speaker 2 (07:43):
Enjoy your night tonight now promises to be huge, Get
amongst and we'll catch you before you get on the
plane and disappear off to Canada. All right.
Speaker 3 (07:53):
See thank you.
Speaker 1 (07:54):
For more from the All Sport Breakfast with Darcy Watergrave,
listen live to News Talk set Be on Saturday mornings,
or follow the podcast on iHeartRadio.
Popular Podcasts
40s and Free Agents: NFL Draft Season
Daniel Jeremiah of Move the Sticks and Gregg Rosenthal of NFL Daily join forces to break down every team's needs this offseason.
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com
Las Culturistas with Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang
Ding dong! Join your culture consultants, Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang, on an unforgettable journey into the beating heart of CULTURE. Alongside sizzling special guests, they GET INTO the hottest pop-culture moments of the day and the formative cultural experiences that turned them into Culturistas. Produced by the Big Money Players Network and iHeartRadio.