UFC 327 Main Card Predictions

On paper, this Saturday's UFC 327 card in Miami might be the promotion's strongest offering of the year to date.

The card will be topped by a light heavyweight title fight, as fan favorite knockout artist Jiri Prochazka takes on surging contender Carlos Ulberg. The division's title is currently vacant, thanks to longtime champ Alex Pereira's decision to move up to heavyweight, so we're looking at a new era in the division, no matter who wins.

Originally, UFC 327 was also set to feature a flyweight title fight between new champ Joshua Van and challenger Tatsuro Taira, but that bout was unfortunately moved to UFC 328 next month. With that switch-up, Saturday's event will be co-headlined by an interesting light heavyweight clash, pitting top contender Azamat Murzakanov against former middleweight star Paulo Costa.

Before we get to that, we'll be treated to a high-stakes heavyweight clash between former title challenger Curtis Blaydes and trash-talking newcomer Josh Hokit. That will be preceded by a Dominick Reyes vs. Johnny Walker fight at light heavyweight, and a featherweight clash between Nate Landwehr and retiring WEC legend Cub Swanson.

It has all the makings of a very exciting card, and it has the potential to shake things up quite a bit—particularly at light heavyweight. Here's how the B/R combat sports team sees it all going down.

Jiri Prochazka vs. Carlos Ulberg

Ed Mulholland/Zuffa LLC

Nick Akerman: This might sound unfair, but it feels like Ulberg is gaining support because of how Alex Pereira took out Prochazka. Not all rangey kickboxers are created equal. 

Ulberg is seriously scary and has the tools to beat most people in the division. He's accurate, he'll likely hit Jiri with big shots, like so many have. I don't think it'll be enough. 

Jiri is an immensely difficult fighter to put away and he'll be aware of the threat on the outside. I can see Prochazka starting slowly, letting the doubters gain voice, before closing the gap and putting Ulberg to sleep.

Prediction: Prochazka by KO, Rd. 3.

Lyle Fitzsimmons: Seems the most important winning criteria for Prochazka is whether he's fighting Alex Pereira.

He's 0-2 against the two-division superstar and 6-0 against everyone else in the UFC, including the championship likes of Glover Teixeira and Jamahal Hill and failed title challengers Khalil Rountree Jr. and Dominick Reyes.

Does that automatically mean he beats Ulberg, who arrives on a nine-fight octagonal heater? No. But it does suggest that unless the New Zealander comes up with something at or near a "Poatan" level, the result seems academic.

Prediction: Prochazka by unanimous decision

Tom Taylor: Carlos Ulberg has looked very impressive on his way to the top of the light heavyweight division, and his affiliation with Israel Adesanya makes it easy to see him becoming a UFC champion. However, I just can't see him beating Jiri Prochazka this Saturday.

When I try to imagine how this fight will unfold, I can't shake the memory of Ulberg getting stopped by Kennedy Nzechukwu in his UFC in 2021.

Yes, that was a long time ago, and he's improved a lot since then, but that loss was proof of a few things, namely that his gas tank is somewhat questionable, that he doesn't respond well to pressure, and that he can be knocked out.

Even if those things are less true now than they were, they're going to matter in this fight.

I see Ulberg starting reasonably well, but I think the tide will turn quickly. Somewhere toward the end of Round 1 or early in Round 2, Prochazka will start to hurt him. From there, the Adesanya training partner will begin to fall apart, and eventually Prochazka will hit him with something decisive. That'll be it. And new.

Prediction: Prochazka by KO, Rd. 2

Azamat Murzakanov vs. Paulo Costa

Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC

Nick Akerman: Costa has just two wins in six fights across six years, the type of numbers that make me wonder where the time has gone.

He should come into this confident after looking really sharp against Roman Kopylov. That confidence will be much needed, because Murzakanov is walking through bigger and bigger names at a noticeable rate.  

My biggest worry for Costa is actually another surprising stat: His last finish came in 2018. Fighters who can't finish Murzakanov are in trouble. He's getting better with each performance and his durability should open opportunities to hurt Costa.

If he can handle the Brazilian's speed, we'll be looking at 17-0 and the biggest name yet on his resume.

Prediction: Murzakanov by unanimous decision

Lyle Fitzsimmons: It's been a while since Costa was the UFC's "it" guy, having lost three of five fights since laying a competitive egg against Israel Adesanya in a middleweight title try six years ago.

His scorecard defeat of Roman Kopylov in his last fight last summer was respectable enough but taking on a single-digit-ranked 205-pounder who's handled everything thrown at him since arriving doesn't seem quite as likely a proposition.

It may not be a sixth finish in seven fights but a win for Murzakanov seems probable.

Prediction: Murzakanov by unanimous decision

Tom Taylor: I really don't understand how a fringe middleweight contender like Paulo Costa landed himself a fight with an elite light heavyweight contender like Azamat Murzakanov, but here we are.

I don't see this one being competitive at all. While Costa has been pretty entertaining over the years, he has barely kept his head above water in the middleweight division. At light heavyweight, the opposition is going to be that much more challenging for him, as his opponents are going to be considerably bigger and stronger than he's used to.

Murzakanov happens to be one of the very best of them. Not only is he going to have some notable physical advantages in the Octagon, but he is better than Costa in nearly every area that's likely to matter in this fight.

I see him leaning on his technical striking acumen to soften Costa up, and his light heavyweight knockout power to finish the former middleweight off.

Prediction: Murzakanov by TKO, Rd. 2

Curtis Blaydes vs. Josh Hokit

Aziz Karimov/Getty Images

Nick Akerman: This is one of those fights where I'm not sure what the UFC is looking to achieve. 

A win for Blaydes does little for his career. A loss for Hokit just ends his unbeaten record at a time when there should be more stepping stones between being booked against Denzel Freeman and "Razor."

Blaydes should be considered the heavy favourite. I'd expect to see him look pretty relaxed en route to a finish.

Prediction: Blaydes by TKO, Rd. 2

Lyle Fitzsimmons: I'm no Blaydes apologist but this one strikes me as too much, too soon for a guy like Hokit.

"Razor" is one fight removed from a match with the reigning heavyweight champ while his unbeaten foe hasn't beaten anyone with a particularly impressive pedigree across stops in Bellator, LFA or the Contender Series and subsequently the UFC.

So, unless he starts resembling a shot 35-year-old on Saturday, this is a walkover for the promotion's fifth-ranked big man.

Prediction: Blaydes by TKO, Round 1

Tom Taylor: As Nick said, this is a strange bit of matchmaking. Unfortunately, that's been increasingly normal for the UFC lately. Anyway...

On paper, Hokit might actually be a better wrestler than Blaydes. He's also probably got the former title challenger beat in terms of raw power. But I don't see any of that mattering.

Blaydes has spent years fighting the very best fighters the heavyweight division has to offer, and beating the majority of them. He is crafty and experienced enough to completely outclass a raw prospect like Hokit. He might need to survive a couple of scares early on, but as long as he keeps his cool, he'll take control of this one with pressure, volume, and wrestling, and get the stoppage somewhere in the second half. If he spares us from another cheesy Hokit post-fight interview in the process, that's fine by me.

Prediction: Blaydes by TKO, Rd. 2

Dominick Reyes vs. Johnny Walker

Ed Mulholland/Zuffa LLC

Nick Akerman: Oftentimes I think of a world where Johnny Walker took all that excitement and energy of his early UFC run and became one of the best. I'm a dreamer. 

His career is entertaining as hell, but we're looking at a man who spent all his create-a-character points on attack and forgot to put anything into defense or IQ.

As such, I think Dominick Reyes is a difficult conundrum for him. Reyes does most things solidly. Quite often that's enough to put Walker down while he's attempting some kind of new-fangled headspin kick somewhere out of shot.

Prediction: Reyes to win by TKO, Rd. 3

Lyle Fitzsimmons: When it comes to Reyes, Fitz is a man without a clue. I'm one of the few and far between who thought he did enough to beat Jon Jones years ago. I'm also among those who were sure he was done after losing three more fights in less than five combined rounds.

He's 3-1 in a subsequent career resurgence and in with another enigma in Walker, who could be on either end of a viral finish here.

But if the instinct is leaning toward a unique KO, let me buck the competitive trend and suggest Reyes gets it done in a more conventional and perhaps duller manner over 15 minutes.

Prediction: Reyes by unanimous decision

Tom Taylor: The most glaring detail of this matchup is the fact that both Reyes and Walker are tremendously powerful and very susceptible to punishment. Based on that, it's easy to picture either man winning by knockout while the other regains consciousness under the Jumbotron.

In matchups like this, it's very hard to predict a winner, but I've got to lean Reyes. While he is a little less creative than Walker, he is definitely more refined, and more importantly, I think he is slightly more durable. So, when the heavy artillery starts flying—which shouldn't take long—I slightly favor him to remain upright.

I'm not confident, but I see Reyes coming out on a top in a quick and dramatic fight that will have fans of both fighters gnawing their nails with anxiety for the duration.

Prediction: Reyes by KO, Rd. 1

Cub Swanson vs. Nate Landwehr

Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC

Nick Akerman: Hell yes to this as Swanson's last fight.

We couldn't have expected anything less than a tough final bow. It's evenly matched, it's exciting, it's a great snapshot of his career.

I like to think he'll be buoyed by the moment, and despite my gut telling me Landwehr will get it done, I'm going to allow one heart pick for this card: Swanson to get through a war and seal a dub.

Prediction: Swanson to win by majority decision

Lyle Fitzsimmons: Let's hope that when it comes to retirement fights, Swanson gets the Michael Chiesa experience and not the Nico Price one.

The 42-year-old will lay his gloves on the mat after scrapping with Landwehr is what seems almost sure to be the best fight on the main card, and his striking accuracy and general tenacity ought to offset the height, reach and age advantages the "Train" possesses.

Prediction: Swanson by TKO, Rd. 2

Tom Taylor: Swanson's incredible journey from the WEC to the bright lights of the UFC will finally draw to a close on Saturday, and he's got a compelling dance partner for his swan song.

Both Swanson and Landwehr will understand the assignment here. The former will want to entertain in his final fight, and the latter will happily oblige him in a fun scrap.

I'm picturing a back-and-forth three-rounder where Swanson's technical edge and slight power advantage allow him to produce the bigger moments. That will be the recipe for a decision win and a suitable sendoff for one of MMA's most beloved veterans.

Prediction: Swanson by unanimous decision