UFC 327 Power Rankings: Rating The Night’s Big Winners In Miami

The UFC headed to the Kaseya Center in Miami, Florida, for its latest numbered event, and there were some huge performances on the main card, as a new champion was crowned at 205 pounds, a heavyweight contender emerged, and a former middleweight title challenger made a statement in his new weight class.

Here are our power rankings for the main card winners from UFC 327.

UFC 327 Power Rankings

1. Josh Hokit

His press conference antics might not be everyone’s cup of tea, but there’s no denying Josh Hokit’s qualities inside the Octagon once the action gets underway.

Many people felt that his fight with perennial contender Curtis Blaydes would be the moment Hokit hit his competitive ceiling, but instead we saw a breakout performance as he went into the trenches with Blaydes in one of the best heavyweight fights the UFC has seen in a long time.

Hokit’s athleticism, toughness, and willingness to trade big shots in MMA gloves with an even bigger heavyweight showed that, for all of the pre-fight theatrics, when it comes down to the nitty gritty, he’s got what it takes to be a major player at heavyweight.

The news immediately after the event that he was being added to the White House card seemed like a deserved reward for Hokit, and his upcoming bout with Derrick Lewis has the potential to steal the show on the White House lawn.

2. Paulo Costa

Paulo Costa’s career as a middleweight contender was already being read its last rites, which meant his move up to light heavyweight only made sense. However, few thought he would be able to rekindle the sort of form that took him to a title shot at 185. 

But against an undefeated Azamat Murzakanov, who was setting his own sights on a title shot at 205 pounds, Costa produced a superb performance as he took everything Murzakanov threw at him, then repaid him with interest as he finished the big Russian with a head kick early in the third round.

The fight showed there’s plenty more still in the tank for Costa at light heavyweight, and the big Brazilian could be a different animal without the need for a punishing weight cut. He’s big, powerful, and durable with it. And now, following his win over Murzakanov, he’s a legitimate contender at 205.

3. Cub Swanson

Cub Swanson’s final fight was always going to be an emotional affair. One of the sport’s true good guys was bringing the curtain down on his career, and he was facing a hard-charging, in-your-face opponent in Nate Landwehr. It could have been a horror show, with Landwehr running over the ageing former UFC and WEC contender. But what we gott instead was a vintage Swanson performance as he signed off in the perfect style – with a crowd-pleasing win.

Swanson’s finish of Landwehr came late in the first round, and gave “Killer Cub” the 31st win, and 15th knockout finish, of his stellar MMA career.

Over the years he’s been a role model professional, a fan-friendly fighter, and a great ambassador for the UFC and the sport of mixed martial arts. Now, as a coach, he’ll help shape the future of the sport. If they are even half as classy as Cub, they won’t be going far wrong.

4. Carlos Ulberg

It seems almost unfair to put a title-winning fighter so far down a Power Ranking list, and Carlos Ulberg’s jaw-dropping knockout of Jiri Prochazka was certainly a show-stopping moment to finish the night. But while he walked away from Kaseya Center with the championship belt around his waist, you can’t help but feel that the story between him and Prochazka isn’t finished just yet.

Prochazka looked great early, and appeared to be well on his way to victory, thanks to a smart combination of unorthodox boxing and some nasty, chopping leg kicks.

Ulberg appeared to have problems with both legs during the fight, but while he was badly struggling, Prochazka didn’t close in and finish the job. Instead, he backed away, and it cost him badly.

Ulberg did exactly what he needed to do, as he found the fight-ending strike to claim a stunning come-from-behind win. But from the outside, looking in, it felt like a fight Prochazka lost as much as it did a contest that Ulberg won.

Ulberg won’t care a jot, however. He’s the champion now, and it’s up to the rest of the division to topple him. 

5. Dominick Reyes

Former light heavyweight title challenger Dominick Reyes is looking to move back into contention at 205 pounds, and after his knockout loss to newly-crowned champ Ulberg last September, he needed a bounceback win to keep him in the mix.

Against Johnny Walker in Miami, he got it.

Despite facing a fighter who has previously offered up opportunities to knock him out, Reyes was forced to fight all the way to the scorecards, with Walker looking much more defensively responsible, while Reyes himself was wary of over-extending and getting caught himself. It meant the pair battled to the final horn, before Reyes was crowned the winner via split decision.

It wasn’t the most spectacular win of “The Devastator’s” career, but in terms of his current career trajectory, it was certainly a very important one.