Carlos “The Black Jag” Ulberg will step into the UFC octagon at London this Saturday night as the co-main event against former champion Jan Blachowicz, but his path to martial arts prominence included an unexpected career detour – male exotic dancing.
The 34-year-old New Zealander, who currently sits sixth in the UFC’s light-heavyweight rankings, revealed his unconventional past career choice that helped him make ends meet before his mixed martial arts career took off.
“I used to do ladies’ nights in Australia,” Ulberg recalled. “I used to travel around Australia and New Zealand doing ladies’ nights and strip, pretty much.”
His performances caught the attention of a regional MMA announcer who bestowed Ulberg with his first nickname – “Ladies Night” – before he became known as “The Black Jag.”
“Then a guy, one of the announcers back home, local, heard of that and gave me that name,” Ulberg explained.
The New Zealander’s striking good looks also led to modeling opportunities and even two declined invitations to appear on The Bachelor New Zealand.
“I was a rugby player and I needed a bit of extra money,” he said when reflecting on his dancing days. “And I found that this was — more than extra money.”
The lifestyle came with perks beyond financial stability. “I was traveling, they put me on billboards and all that sort of thing. It was similar to the [Thunder From Down Under show] that they have here [in Las Vegas]. So I was doing that, partying, getting paid, I was loving it — I was young.”
However, Ulberg’s priorities shifted dramatically when he discovered his talent for combat sports. “Until I found that I was good at fighting. So I gave that up pretty quickly.”
The career change has proven extraordinarily successful. After securing his UFC contract with an impressive showing on Dana White’s Contender Series, Ulberg stumbled in his March 2021 UFC debut but has since rattled off seven consecutive victories, including four knockouts.
Now facing Blachowicz in the biggest bout of his career, a win could potentially put Ulberg in position for a title shot. For the former exotic dancer who once entertained crowds with a different kind of performance, Saturday night represents the culmination of a remarkable journey from the stage to the cage.
