Jiri Prochazka, Carlos Ulberg Compete for Vacant Lightweight Title
Alex Pereira has officially vacated his title in the 205-pound light-heavyweight division. As a result, Jiri Prochazka and Carlos Ulberg are set to fight for the vacant championship at UFC 327, taking place in Miami on April 11, 2024. This announcement was made by UFC president Dana White during a recent live social media session.
Background on the Fighters
- Alex Pereira: A 38-year-old Brazilian, Pereira has held titles in two weight classes in kickboxing. He transitioned to mixed martial arts (MMA) in 2021, going 4-0 and winning the UFC 185-pound championship in 2022. Following a loss to Israel Adesanya, he moved to the 205-pound division but lost the title to Magomed Ankalaev a year ago. Pereira secured a rapid victory over Ankalaev last October.
- Jiri Prochazka: The 33-year-old Czech fighter has an impressive record of 18 wins and 2 losses since 2015, with both losses occurring in title bouts against Pereira. Prochazka won the title in June 2022 but vacated it due to a serious shoulder injury. He returned to the octagon but faced Pereira again in November 2023, suffering another defeat.
- Carlos Ulberg: With a 13-1 professional record, Ulberg is currently on a nine-fight winning streak since his UFC debut. He most recently defeated Dominick Reyes in the first round during a main event in September 2023.
Upcoming Fight Details
The fight between Prochazka and Ulberg will headline UFC 327, alongside an exciting co-main event featuring Joshua Van and Tatsuro Taira for the men’s flyweight title. This event also includes notable fights such as Johnny Walker challenging Dominick Reyes and Azamat Murzakanov facing Paulo Costa.
Other Fights on the UFC 327 Card
- No. 12 Beneil Dariush vs. Manuel Torres (lightweight)
- No. 12 Patricio Pitbull vs. Aaron Pico (featherweight)
- No. 7 Mateusz Gamrot vs. Esteban Ribovics (lightweight)
- Cub Swanson vs. Nate Landwehr (featherweight)
- Kelvin Gastelum vs. Vicente Luque (middleweight)
- No. 2 Tatiana Suarez vs. No. 6 Loopy Godinez (women’s strawweight)
- Christopher Alvidrez vs. Francisco Prado (welterweight)
With implications for the future of both fighters, the clash for the vacant lightweight title promises to be a highlight of UFC 327. White has indicated that further announcements regarding the event will be made soon.
