Fighters Weekly is bringing you its main card staff predictions for UFC 327 this weekend, featuring dynamite strikers Jiri Prochazka and Carlos Ulberg duking it out for the light heavyweight championship.
Journalists Mat Riddle (@mriddlemma), Drew Beaupré (@mmameditations), and Daniel Feliciano (@DMFv2) are here to give fans their official picks for the UFC 327 main card:
- Jiri Prochazka vs. Carlos Ulberg for the light heavyweight title
- Azamat Murzakanov vs. Paulo Costa at light heavyweight
- Curtis Blaydes vs. Josh Hokit at heavyweight
- Dominick Reyes vs. Johnny Walker at light heavyweight
- Cub Swanson vs. Nate Landwehr at lightweight
Preview their picks below, and compare with your own in the comments.
Cub Swanson vs. Nate Landwehr prediction
Daniel: Swanson’s first fight since 2024 is going to be an occasion, and he’s been given an opponent that will help him go out on a high note.
Landwehr is very aggressive, with his last three fights ending in KO’s, but the last two going against him. Swanson has the power to continue that, but he also has the grappling ability and IQ to avoid a firefight. Expect tentative nerves at first, before the fireworks in a war.
(Pick: Swanson)
Drew: This is a perfect booking for Swanson’s retirement fight, and it’s rightfully been slotted in as the main card opener. Landwehr always makes things entertaining whenever he steps into the cage, but he’s coming off back-to-back stoppage losses, and Swanson still packs a considerable punch.
(Pick: Swanson)
Mat: Swanson is the matador to Landwehr’s bull. I expect fireworks from the opening frame and for Swanson to have the veteran savvy, sharp striking, and finishing instinct to punish Landwehr’s ignorant blitzes.
(Pick: Swanson)
Verdict: Unanimous for Swanson
Dominick Reyes vs. Johnny Walker prediction
Daniel: This will be fireworks between two fighters who have unbelievable one-punch KO power and no chin.
Reyes’ recent resurgence was brought to a grinding halt last time out by Carlos Ulberg, while Walker ended a three-fight winless skid with a stunning performance last time out. But this is the type of fight where both will feel they can win quickly.
But while Walker likes to be explosive and flashy with his attacks, Reyes is more traditional and technical. His shots down the pipe should land, and I expect him to get back to winning ways.
(Pick: Reyes)
Casual Guide to UFC 327: Who’s fighting, best fighters, best highlights
Drew: I understand that this is technically a very meaningful fight for the division, but it really feels like it might just be a matter of which man’s suspect chin gets touched first.
Reyes was having a bit of a resurgence before running into Carlos Ulberg his last time out, and he may be able to avoid getting clipped by a decidedly less-wild version of Walker than what we saw when the Brazilian first arrived in the UFC.
(Pick: Reyes)
Mat: I hear Walker has been training with Francis Ngannou and is having a pretty good time. This fight is a total coinflip to me, but if I can count on one guy to either find a quick finish or a sloppy decision, it’s Walker.
(Pick: Walker)
Verdict: Reyes 2-1 Walker
Josh Hokit vs. Curtis Blaydes prediction
Daniel: Hokit is someone who has impressed in his short UFC career, but he’s also been accelerated into this position because of his antics outside the cage, in the latest example that the organisation is turning away from the best fighting the best.
Blaydes has always been the gatekeeper to the top of the division, and with good reason. His wrestling is dominant and his ground and pound violent. He will be, by far, the best fighter Hokit has ever fought, and it should be a step too far for him at this stage.
(Pick: Blaydes)
Drew: Either the UFC has already decided that they’re invested in trying to make Hokit a star, or his work on the mic encouraged the promotion to give him a “prove it” sort of fight.
We’ve seen Blaydes get stopped during the early going on a few occasions during his career, but he’s also been one of the UFC’s top heavyweight talents for years and represents a massive step up in competition for Hokit.
(Pick: Blaydes)
Mat: While I don’t trust this version of Blaydes, Hokit strikes me as the type of fighter who doesn’t have the physicality or attitude to fight past his initial onslaught. I expect Hokit to crumble after Blaydes defends the first bull-rush. P.S. I respect Hokit trying to promote his fights, but his Team America-WWE shtick is overplayed, and he’s due for some humble pie.
(Pick: Blaydes)
Verdict: Unanimous for Blaydes
Azamat Murzakanov vs. Paulo Costa prediction
Daniel: Costa finally returned to winning ways against Roman Kopylov last time out, but now he moves up a division to take on a wrecking machine at light heavyweight. The Brazilian’s chin rarely lets him down, but he’ll now be fighting bigger guys who hit harder. Murzakanov is a dark horse at 205, and this could be the big name on his resume to get him into title contention.
(Pick: Murzakanov)
Drew: I know that Joshua Van vs. Tatsuro Taira was originally supposed to be in the co-main event slot, but this still feels like an odd pick for the card’s penultimate bout. Even though I am interested to see how Costa looks at light heavyweight, it’s hard to pick against Murzakanov, given how dominant he’s looked since joining the UFC.
(Pick: Murzakanov)
Mat: Costa back at light heavyweight. I’m looking at his performance against Marvin Vettori for reference. Murzakanov has bricks for fists and allegedly defeated Roman Kopylov and Magomed Ankalaev in Russian Sambo, so Costa had better test his grappling!
(Pick: Murzakanov)
Verdict: Unanimous for Murzakanov
Jiri Prochazka vs. Carlos Ulberg prediction
Daniel: The main event is going to be spectacular, between two knockout machines who deserve their spot at the top of the division. Ulberg’s clean kickboxing style is eerily similar to the one Alex Pereira used to beat Prochazka twice, but he doesn’t have that top-level experience.
Jiri is a force of nature when he gets momentum behind him, and has no issue battling forward even when he’s been losing rounds. Expect Jiri to drag this fight into deep waters and then really turn on the pressure, where I think he’ll drown Ulberg and claim the belt for the second time in a fight where fireworks are almost guaranteed.
(Pick: Prochazka)
Drew: The longer this fight goes, and the wilder it gets, the more it feels like things should favor Procházka. The former light heavyweight titleholder already has plenty of championship experience and had to weather a significant storm in order to knock out Khalil Rountree Jr. in his last outing, but for some reason, I just can’t shake the feeling that Ulberg will keep his composure and connect with something big.
(Pick: Ulberg)
Mat: Another coinflip for me! Ulberg’s shot selection and counter left hook seem like Prochazka’s kryptonite. ‘BJP’ needs to be put out with one shot, rather than a volume of strikes; he’s too wiry and nasty to chase down.
However, I think Prochazka brings a lot to the table. He has better cardio, he cuts guys up, never gives up, and has only lost to the (former) champ of his division. I trust he’ll make it ugly from the get-go, and I’ll be flinching at everything Ulberg throws back.
I go against my better judgment and pick Prochazka to overwhelm Ulberg for a finish.
(Pick: Prochazka)
Verdict: Prochazka 2-1 Ulberg
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