The Light Heavyweight division is moving on from the “Poatan” era.
On Friday, UFC announced major updates to the UFC 327 fight card via social media. First and foremost, current Light Heavyweight champion Alex Pereira is officially vacating his 205-pound title ahead of a highly anticipated Heavyweight move. As a result of the open belt, former kingpin Jiri Prochazka will once again challenge for gold opposite surging knockout artist Carlos Ulberg to decide the future of the division.
Prochazka fought twice in 2025, defeating both Jamahal Hill and Khalil Rountree via knockout in a pair of the best fights of the year (watch here). In the last 10 years, the only man to defeat “BJP” is Pereira, so the Brazilian’s departure is a huge opportunity for the fan favorite finisher. Meanwhile, Ulberg hasn’t lost a fight since March 2021. The kickboxer rides an eight-fight win streak over names like Jan Blachowicz and Dominick Reyes into his first-ever title shot, and the collision of these two strikers should prove to be an electric main event.
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Alongside the 205-pound title fight, UFC announced two more significant additions to UFC 327 card. At 155 pounds, veteran contender Beneil Dariush will attempt to rebound from a nasty knockout loss to Benoit Saint Denis by taking out rising star Manuel Torres, a gigantic Lightweight prospect with thunder in his hands. It’s a potential changing of the guard, as Dariush either plays spoiler or exits the Top 15 entirely after many years as a ranked Lightweight.
Finally, Featherweight standouts Patricio Pitbull vs. Aaron Pico will collide on the “Prelims.” Pitbull is a decorated Bantamweight champion at the tail end of his career, but his recent victory over Dan Ige proved that the Brazilian great still has something left in the tank. Conversely, Pico is still looking for his first UFC victory. The 29-year-old talent dove right into the deep end of UFC competition in his debut versus Lerone Murphy, a move that backfired when Pico ran straight into one of the year’s meanest spinning elbows.
All told, UFC 327 is looking like one of the best cards yet of 2026! Any predictions for how these new matchups shake out?
