The UFC is back in Miami with a stacked UFC 327 card topped by a light heavyweight division-altering main event between former champion Jiri Prochazka, a Czech, and Carlos Ulberg of New Zealand on Saturday.
Prochazka (32-5-1 MMA) will attempt to become a two-time champion should he win the vacant title against Ulberg (14-1 MMA). Prochazka has won three of his last five fights, with his two losses in that span coming against former UFC light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira before the latter’s move to heavyweight.
“Everyone knows he’s a great striker,” Prochazka, 33, said of Ulberg at Thursday’s pre-fight press conference. “He’s a very systematic fighter. Good striking style. Fast kicks. Really good left hook. Obviously, everybody knows, so that’s where I am prepared.”
Ulberg said he does not care how the fight plays out, despite his general preference for a clean knockout in nearly every fight. It’s a title fight opportunity, a rare opportunity for some, so Ulberg will adjust as the fight goes on.
“I’ll do whatever it takes to get him out of there, for sure,” Ulberg, 35, said.
Prochazka won the light heavyweight title at UFC 275 in 2022, but an injury cut his title run short before it could really start. Meanwhile, Ulberg has had a meteoric rise through the rankings with five wins by KO/TKO.
The entire card airs on Paramount+, with the main card getting underway at 9 p.m. ET.
The bout order, which is subject to change, is:
–Main event: Jiri Prochazka vs. Carlos Ulberg, vacant UFC light heavyweight title
–Co-main event: Azamat Murzakanov vs. Paulo Costa, light heavyweight
–Curtis Blaydes vs. Josh Hokit, heavyweight
–Dominick Reyes vs. Johnny Walker, light heavyweight
–Cub Swanson vs. Nate Landwehr, featherweight
–Field Level Media
