Procházka and Ulberg to Fight for Vacant Light Heavyweight Title at UFC 327

2026-03-08 - 03:34

Former champion Jiří Procházka will face Carlos Ulberg for the vacant light heavyweight title at UFC 327 on April 11 at the Kaseya Center in Miami, following Alex Pereira’s decision to vacate the 205-pound belt and move to the heavyweight division. The title vacancy immediately restructures the light heavyweight hierarchy and guarantees a new divisional champion. The main event establishes a high-stakes shift for Ulberg, who enters his first championship bout riding a nine-fight win streak, while granting Procházka a third opportunity to reclaim undisputed gold. UFC CEO Dana White formalized the main event after Pereira relinquished the championship he previously reclaimed at UFC 320. The April 11 fight card also features the first UFC championship matchup between two athletes born in the 2000s, with Joshua Van defending his flyweight title against Tatsuro Taira in the co-main event. Former middleweight title challenger Paulo Costa will make his light heavyweight debut against undefeated prospect Azamat Murzakanov. Costa views the divisional jump as a strategic move to secure a future bout with the current middleweight champion, Khamzat Chimaev. “I think after a good victory against Azamat on April 11, I get back at middleweight to be in line to fight him,” Costa stated during an interview on The Ariel Helwani Show. “Or I can wait for him at 205. I can fight him in both divisions.” Matchmakers finalized additional preliminary bouts over the weekend, including a lightweight contest between Nazim Sadykhov and MarQuel Mederos. The pairing officially rebooks a fight originally canceled in July 2024 due to roster withdrawals.