After extending his win streak to nine with a knockout of Dominick Reyes in front of a parochial Perth crowd, Carlos Ulberg wasted no time.
He flew straight to Las Vegas, ready to challenge whoever walked out of UFC 320's main event with the light heavyweight title.
On paper, Ulberg's case for a title shot was bullet proof: he was the top-ranked contender, riding the longest active win streak in the division, and offered a fresh matchup for either Alex Pereira or Magomed Ankalaev.
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In the UFC 320 headliner, Pereira demolished Ankalaev in just 80 seconds - a result that seemed destined to set up another chapter in the ongoing rivalry between City Kickboxing and 'Team Chama.'
Enter Jiří Procházka.
The former champion has built a cult-like following thanks to his eccentric personality and relentless fighting style.
That fanbase was louder than ever after his performance earlier on the same card, where he staged a stunning comeback to knock out Khalil Rountree and earn "Performance of the Night" honours.
The win marked Procházka's second straight victory since losing - via Pereira's left shin - to the now three-time UFC champion.
While Ulberg has the stronger claim to a title shot on merit, Procházka's immense popularity has complicated things.
Star power is still the modus operandi of the UFC's matchmakers, who are motivated to book fights that will draw the most mainstream attention.
For Ulberg, that means his title aspirations could be on ice. Despite his credentials, he may have to notch one more victory before finally earning his shot at gold.