Published on: April 12, 2026, 10:12h.

Updated on: April 12, 2026, 10:12h.

• Ulberg endures severe knee injury before stunning Prochazka with a first-round knockout to claim the title
• Josh Hokit and Curtis Blaydes engage in a thrilling three-round battle for “Fight of the Night” honors
• UFC President Dana White announces Hokit will compete on the White House card June 14

In an unforgettable evening in the UFC, Carlos Ulberg, battling through a seemingly serious knee injury, surprisingly knocked out Jiri Prochazka with a powerful left hook in the first round, thereby seizing the light heavyweight championship.

Trump Observes Ringside

The night was filled with excitement for UFC enthusiasts, highlighted by U.S. President Donald Trump being present ringside at the Kaseya Center in Miami, sitting alongside Dana White, the president of UFC.

The title fight in the light heavyweight category was not the only contest thrilling the sold-out audience of 17,741. The heavyweight bout featuring No. 5 ranked Curtis Blaydes against rising star Josh Hokit was a spectacular three-round match, resulting in the highest number of significant strikes ever recorded in a UFC heavyweight fight (351). The significant strikes were displayed as 151 to the head with 87% accuracy for Blaydes and 164 significant strikes at 93% accuracy for Hokit.

Despite both fighters showing signs of fatigue throughout the match, Hokit entertained the crowd, provocatively gesturing at Blaydes after absorbing punches. Now with a record of 3-0 in the UFC, Hokit began aggressively from the opening bell, inflicting considerable damage to his opponent, Blaydes, whose face was visibly bruised and battered. Hokit’s once-white trunks were marked with blood by the end of the bout.

Ulberg’s Knee Injury

Ultimately, Hokit vs. Blaydes earned the title of UFC’s “Fight of the Night.” Following the match, White revealed that President Trump inquired about why his favorite fighter, Derrick Lewis, wasn’t included on the June 14 White House UFC card. White swiftly took action to fulfill Trump’s request. Hokit, who was asked to fight Lewis on the White House lineup while being transported to an ambulance, was prepared for the challenge. Blaydes was also sent to the hospital.

White initially expressed his disfavor of Hokit’s flamboyant style leading up to the fight and during the contest but acknowledged that Hokit’s performance in the Octagon shifted his perception, leading him to offer a matchup on the White House card. Expect to see Hokit rising in the UFC heavyweight rankings after this impressive display.

“(Hokit) backed up his talk tonight,” White commented post-fight. “When individuals come out and act in a certain manner, it doesn’t align with me. However, both fighters earned my respect, and the fight was extraordinary. Going forward, I won’t critique him again.”

Betting Insights

“Having a particular persona is one thing, but challenging the No. 5 ranked fighter in the world, who is known to be tough, and achieving what he did tonight is extraordinary,” White emphasized.

“When the President asks, ‘Why isn’t Derrick Lewis on the card?’ you ensure Derrick Lewis is included immediately,” he added.

Prior to the fights, the light heavyweight title bout saw even betting odds at several sportsbooks, with some favoring Prochazka slightly (BetMGM listed Prochazka at -115 with 60% of bets and a 36% handle compared to Ulberg’s -105). This made sense as Prochazka had previously suffered two defeats against Alex Pereira in the division, which vacated the title due to Pereira’s move to heavyweight. This opened a pathway to the title with Pereira no longer competing. Prochazka is known for his knockout power, which made him an appealing choice for bettors.

However, the betting line shifted towards the technically adept Ulberg before the fight, with the risk that Prochazka’s aggressive fighting style could leave him vulnerable. Prochazka typically endures significant punishment in his bouts, and that was evident last night, as he noted post-fight that he may have let his guard down upon seeing Ulberg down on one knee.

As reported by BetMGM, Prochazka vs. Ulberg was the most wagered-on fight (based on tickets sold), followed closely by Blaydes vs. Hokit, and Azamat Murzakanov vs. Paulo Costa (which Costa won in an unexpected outcome). The most popular prop bets prior to the event included Prochazka winning by KO/TKO or DQ at +125 and Hokit achieving a KO/TKO or DQ victory at +200.