UFC 327 & 328: Pereira vs Gane for Interim Heavyweight Title, Prochazka vs Ulberg for Vacant 205 Belt – What We Know
Could we see Alex Pereira vs. Ciryl Gane plus Jiri Prochazka vs. Carlos Ulberg? UFC 327 and UFC 328 could be set for major divisional shifts, based on a rumor circulating through Brazilian outlet MMA Hoje and a handful of social‑media accounts citing the same claim. The report is not yet confirmed by the UFC, but it points to a clean title‑split scenario: Alex Pereira moving up to heavyweight for an interim belt bout against Ciryl Gane at UFC 328, while Jiri Prochazka and Carlos Ulberg headline UFC 327 for the vacant light‑heavyweight title.
What the rumor actually says
MMA Hoje’s posts indicate that Alex Pereira would vacate his UFC light‑heavyweight championship in order to challenge Ciryl Gane for an interim heavyweight title at UFC 328, scheduled for May 9 at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey. The same narrative states that the now‑vacant light‑heavyweight belt would sit on the line at UFC 327, where Jiri Prochazka and Carlos Ulberg would meet in Miami for the undisputed championship in that weight class.​
These messages are framed as internal booking information, not as official UFC announcements. Multiple translation and accounts have repeated the same UFC 327/328 structure (Prochazka–Ulberg for the vacant light‑heavyweight belt at 327, Pereira–Gane for an interim heavyweight belt at 328), but none of them cite UFC‑issued press releases.
Context on Pereira, Gane and the heavyweight picture
Pereira has been linked to a heavyweight transition since late 2025, with some stating that the Brazilian informed the UFC of his intention to vacate the light‑heavyweight title and move up before the end of January 2026. UFC rules require champions to either defend within their division or relinquish gold before chasing belts in another weight class, which aligns with the Hoje claim that Pereira would step away from 205 to pursue an interim heavyweight title.​​
Ciryl Gane has been positioned as a natural high‑end heavyweight opponent for Pereira, given his footwork, reach and past interim title history. The context is that reigning heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall has been sidelined with eye‑socket damage from his no‑contest loss to Gane at UFC 321 in October 2025, and there has been industry speculation that the UFC could install an interim belt if his recovery timeline drags.
Those interim‑belt discussions helped fuel early 2026 rumors that Aspinall might be forced to vacate.
Why Prochazka–Ulberg makes sense for UFC 327
On the light‑heavyweight side, Prochazka reclaimed relevance in the division with a third‑round knockout of Khalil Rountree Jr. at UFC 320, reinforcing his status as a top contender once he returned from injury. Ulberg, meanwhile, has been pushed as a rising contender at 205, with prior reports describing him as a key gatekeeper who could earn a title shot with a win over a name like Prochazka.​
Earlier pieces outlined that Prochazka–Ulberg had been discussed as a title‑eliminator or potential title fight, even if Prochazka himself downplayed firm confirmation and emphasized that the bout was still in negotiation. The Hoje leak takes that idea a step further, explicitly labeling the UFC 327 matchup as a main‑event for the vacant light‑heavyweight belt, with Joshua Van versus Tatsuro Taira slotted in as the flyweight co‑main for the same card.
Current reliability and where things stand
At this stage, the structure described by MMA Hoje, UFC 327: Prochazka vs. Ulberg for the undisputed light‑heavyweight title; UFC 328: Pereira vs. Gane for an interim heavyweight belt, remains an unconfirmed rumor. No UFC press release, official document, or Dana White statement has endorsed that card split, and the organization has yet to publicly confirm an interim heavyweight title or a formal request for Aspinall to vacate.​
