UFC May Have Finally Found the New Stars It Desperately Needed

You know how there's been an ongoing dialogue that the UFC lacks stars?

UFC 327 might have put some of that chatter to rest.

The UFC has been a little short on reliable stars for the last couple of years, but the promotion's Saturday night card in Miami indicated that may finally be changing, as several fighters delivered breakout performances in the Octagon.

The most notable of those fighters was New Zealand's Carlos Ulberg, who captured the vacant UFC light heavyweight title under some of the most dramatic circumstances imaginable.

Ulberg's opponent in the title fight was popular former champ Jiri Prochazka. In the early going of their fight, it looked as though the Kiwi striker was done for, as he suffered an apparent knee injury while avoiding a Prochazka combo.

However, that development seemed to rattle the always honorable former champion, who greatly slowed down his offense in what he would later call an act of "mercy." He would ultimately pay a huge price for that decision. As the round wore down, and a frustrated Prochazka crashed forward, Ulberg uncorked a hook from hell that instantly turned the tide. Prochazka hit the deck, and a few follow-up punches later, the referee stopped the fight, making Ulberg the new champion. A king on one leg.

"I knew I only needed one shot, and I got it," Ulberg said in his post-fight interview with commentator Joe Rogan. "I told you everything was going to change, and now I'm the king of the division."

Ulberg has always had star potential. As a longtime training partner of former middleweight champ Israel Adesanya, he had immediate visibility when he arrived in the UFC, but he's also good-looking, well-spoken, and tremendously entertaining in the Octagon.

The only thing he was missing was a truly marquee win, and his stunning, title-winning knockout of Prochazka on Saturday was exactly that. If the UFC promotes him properly and he continues to impress in his fights, there's no reason he can't become a valuable headline attraction for the promotion.

Ulberg certainly wasn't the only fighter to hit a new level in Miami. Another fighter to do so was — somewhat surprisingly — Brazilian veteran Paulo Costa.

Costa has always been a bit of a cult hero among hardcore fans, but after years of inconsistent results at middleweight, he seemed to have hit his ceiling. His Saturday fight with Azamat Murzakanov, which marked a move up to light heavyweight, represented an opportunity for a fresh start — likely his last.

The odds of his success admittedly looked slim. Murzakanov, who entered the cage with a 16-0 record, was one of the top contenders in the division and has a track record of knocking out top fighters. But Costa didn't get the memo. After two back-and-forth rounds, he came out guns blazing in round three, and after injuring his opponent's arm with a kick, finished him off with a follow-up kick, this time to the head.

At this stage of his career, Costa isn't going to turn into a Conor McGregor or Ronda Rousey, but his win over Murzakanov was a total reinvention, and we can expect the UFC to leverage his increasing popularity in the coming months.

Speaking of increasing popularity, how about Josh Hokit?

Hokit, an undefeated heavyweight prospect, was matched up with former title challenger Curtis Blaydes on Saturday's main card. It was a massive step up in competition from his first two UFC fights, and after talking trash to every fighter he ran into in Miami this week, he had a lot to prove. In the end, he delivered.

At first, it looked like Hokit might score a quick knockout win over Blaydes, as he hurt the veteran heavyweight in the opening seconds of the fight. However, Blaydes showed some unbelievable toughness, clawing his way back into the fight to co-author an instant classic with his inexperienced foe.

Hokit's eventual decision victory will ensure he remains one of the most talked-about fighters in the UFC, and he has the opportunity to build on his momentum in a big way. Just minutes after he left the Octagon, it was announced that he had been added to the upcoming UFC Freedom 250 card, where he'll take on knockout artist Derrick Lewis. Beating a legend like Lewis on a stage that big could turn the brash heavyweight newcomer into a legitimate mainstream superstar.

Amazingly, Hokit has some serious competition for breakthrough heavyweight of the year. That distinction could also go to wrestling phenom Gable Steveson, who has finally signed with the UFC, per an announcement on Saturday's broadcast. If he keeps winning as he has been outside the Octagon, it's possible he could reach the heights of very few heavyweights before him.

Needless to say, Saturday marked a promising night for the UFC's future. After the event, the promotion has a whole new crop of rising stars to bank on — and that's in addition to established names like Ilia Topuria, Alex Pereira, Islam Makhachev, Khamzat Chimaev, and Arman Tsarukyan.

Israel Adesanya and Sean O'Malley may have flamed out. Paddy Pimblett may never be a champion. Conor McGregor may never fight again. Ronda Rousey may have jumped ship for a team-up with Jake Paul. None of that is good for the UFC, but after Saturday, it seems like the promotion will be just fine.