Alex Pereira has vacated the UFC belt. In October, MMA Junkie reported Pereira (13-3 MMA, 10-2 UFC) approached UFC CEO Dana White before UFC 320 requesting to move up a weight class.
He made the request hours before the quick KO over Magomed Ankalaev recapturing the light heavyweight UFC belt.
White Praises Pereira
“Today, I was at work because I had a bunch of meetings and I went over to the (UFC Performance Institute) and he was over at the PI. I was like, ‘You’re the last guy I expected here today. What are you doing here?’ There were telling me, ‘We want to fight at heavyweight.’ I said, ‘Uh, how about you win tonight, and then we can talk about heavyweight.’ I don’t know. There’s still fights here in this division, but we’ll see,” White said at the UFC 320 post-fight press conference.
White has reportedly been previously dismissive of potential heavyweight fights for Pereira, most notably when Jon Jones had the heavyweight UFC belt months ago. The UFC CEO is not opposed to the idea of the fighter moving up a weight class, he simply believes there are better fights at 205 pounds.
“It’s not that I have any reservations about it. The guy is in a division where there’s still interesting fights. I like the guys so much. We’ll see. We’ll have to talk about it. I just don’t see why, unless he wants to retire. Why throw him at heavyweight? (It doesn’t) make any sense other than he just wants to do it so bad, I’ll just say yes.”
White added: “This guy has been an absolute stud for us. He’s on vacation in Australia, flies over because someone fell out. He fights when he’s hurt. He doesn’t care, he wants to fight everyone. He wants to go up to heavyweight. He’s a dream to have in this organization.”
Pereira UFC Career
Pereira won the title belt when he defeated Prochazka (32-5-1) at UFC 295. Then lost the belt to Magomed Ankalaev in May of last year before winning it back at UFC 320.
At the heavyweight division, Pereira will have the opportunity to become the first three-division champion of the UFC.
UFC Belt Fight Announced
The main event for UFC 327 in Miami on Instagram saying “This card is VIOLENT!”
The UFC 327 title match announced to be between former light heavyweight champion Jiri Prochazka and Carlos Ulberg (14-1-0).
Prochazka previously held the light heavyweight championship, but was forced to vacate the UFC belt due to an injury he incurred in 2022. He has won consecutive bouts against Khalil Rountree Jr. and Jamahal Hill.
Ulberg has won nine consecutive bouts since he was defeated in 2021 and has garnered six finishes along the way. If he wins the UFC belt, it will bring the title back to New Zealand and City Kickboxing for the first time since Israel Adesanya won it from Pereira at UFC 287.
UFC 327 will also feature a flyweight title fight between champion Joshua Van and Tatsuro Taira. This is the first UFC belt match between two fighters born in the 2000s.
UFC 327 is scheduled to take place on April 21, 2026.
Sources:
UFC.com: Jirí Procházka and Carlos Ulberg Fight For Light Heavyweight Title At UFC 327
ESPN: Prochazka-Ulberg title bout set for UFC 327; Pereira vacates belt
Bleacher Report: Alex Pereira Vacates Light Heavyweight Title, Jiri Prochazka vs. Carlos Uberg Set for UFC 327
Featured Image Courtesy of lajz’s Flickr Page – Creative Commons License
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