Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC-GettyImages

Dana White Announces Alex Pereira Vacates Light Heavyweight Title

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Michael Aldon | Last updated Feb 28, 2026 6:44 PM ET

In a shocking move that has rocked the UFC landscape, Dana White announced through his Instagram live on Feb. 27 that Jiri Prochazka and Carlos Ulberg will fight for the vacant UFC light heavyweight championship belt at UFC 327. Inadvertently, this means that Alex Pereira has officially vacated his light heavyweight title.

While White did not explain Pereira’s move, Pereira will likely move up to the heavyweight division. Rather than address the news verbally, Pereira simply posted a picture on his Instagram story of himself donning the tribal Pataxo paint of his ancestral lineage (via Alex Pereira on Instagram):

Pereira’s Next Move

The announcement of the light heavyweight title fight coincided with White’s update on the UFC White House event, in which he said bouts for the fight card will be announced within the next week.

This has fueled rumors that Pereira could make his heavyweight debut on the card, possibly for the interim heavyweight title against someone like Ciryl Gane or even Jon Jones. White, however, has repeatedly mentioned how Jones is unreliable.

Alex Pereira (red gloves) prepares to fight Magomed Ankalaev during UFC 313.© Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images

The undisputed champion of the division, Tom Aspinall, is recovering from surgery for a nasty injury he sustained from an eye poke.

UFC 327 Matchup

Vying for Pereira’s former position as undisputed light heavyweight champion will be former champion, Jiri Prochazka, against the up-and-coming Carlos Ulberg.

Alex Pereira (L) Jiri Prochazka (R)Jeff Bottari-GettyImages

Prochazka has fought Pereira twice, losing both fights by knockout. He is known for his unorthodox style and uncanny knockout ability, and his upcoming fight with Ulberg will be his fourth title fight since joining the UFC in 2020.

Ulberg, on the other hand, has proven he has what it takes to become a world champion, defeating seasoned veterans like Jan Blachovicz and Dominick Reyes. Like Prochazka, he is primarily a striker, though his striking style represents a much more traditional and fundamental approach compared to Jiri.

It will be interesting to see who wins and whether or not they will call out Pereira after their title bout. The UFC has shown that there are boundless possibilities, so a win for either man could result in them moving up in weight to chase Pereira, or Pereira could even come back down to light heavyweight to regain his belt.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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