Magomed Ankalaev holds the strongest position as the likely next opponent for UFC light heavyweight champion Carlos Ulberg, reflecting trader consensus on his recent form and direct callouts. Ankalaev secured a fifth-round TKO over Bogdan Guskov in July 2026 at UFC Abu Dhabi, rebounding from his prior title loss and immediately targeting Ulberg for a shot upon the champion’s return. Ulberg, recovering from an ACL tear sustained in his April 2026 title-winning knockout of Jiri Prochazka, has acknowledged Ankalaev’s performance and noted him among top options, with the champion recently spotted back in training. Paulo Costa appears in discussions amid ongoing exchanges with Ankalaev, while Jan Blachowicz and Guskov factor in due to prior history and recent bouts, though their probabilities remain lower amid the division’s contender landscape.