Following his official vacating of the UFC light heavyweight title, Alex Pereira eyes heavyweight history, with Daniel Cormier voicing strong support and fresh developments pointing to a potential clash with Jon Jones. The vacant belt heads to Jiri Prochazka vs. Carlos Ulberg at UFC 327.
UFC CEO Dana White announced last Friday that light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira has vacated his 205-pound title, just months after recapturing it via knockout over Magomed Ankalaev at UFC 320 in October 2025. With UFC records of 10-2 overall and titles in middleweight and light heavyweight, the 13-3 MMA standout is positioned to become the first three-division UFC champion at heavyweight.
This follows recent reports of discussions for Pereira vs. Jon Jones headlining the UFC White House event on June 14, 2026, in Washington, D.C. Jones confirmed negotiations in a viral video, expressing pride in representing America. Journalist Ariel Helwani indicated the UFC is actively pushing for the matchup, though title implications remain unclear.
UFC Hall of Famer Daniel Cormier strongly endorsed Pereira's bold move in a recent YouTube video, dismissing notions of a non-title fight: "I don’t think a guy just gives up a belt to take a fight." He speculated on opponents like Ciryl Gane or Jon Jones, hyping the historic potential: "I want to see a guy chase a third title. We haven’t had that." A Pereira-Jones bout could anchor the anniversary card.
The light heavyweight title will be decided by former champ Jiri Prochazka and Carlos Ulberg headlining UFC 327 on April 11 at Miami's Kaseya Center. Other heavyweight options for Pereira include Gane or champion Tom Aspinall, who is recovering from an eye injury. Pereira's confidence stems from headlining marquee events and delivering knockouts, fueling excitement for his next chapter.