Alex Pereira has vacated his UFC light-heavyweight title in a shock move.
Pereira was yet to defend the title since reclaiming his crown from Magomed Ankalaev in March, when he avenged his only blotch since moving up a weight class.
UFC president Dana White, however, has now confirmed that “Poatan” is no longer champion at 205lbs, with Jiri Prochazka and Carlos Ulberg fighting over the vacant belt to headline UFC 327 on 11 April.
No explanation was given for why the Brazilian has relinquished his title but, barring injury, the development suggests that Pereira will leave the division and make a highly-touted move to heavyweight.
It also came as White confirmed that fights for this summer’s White House card “should” be announced “this week”, stoking speculation that Pereira could be pitted in an interim heavyweight title fight, perhaps against Ciryl Gane, at the event.
Reigning champion Tom Aspinall is currently out with a serious eye injury sustained against Frenchman Gane in October. His recovery and fighting future remain up in the air, as he has undergone multiple surgeries.
Pereira moving up a weight class also looks set to rule out a rumoured bout with middleweight champion Khamzat Chimaev, which would have surely been booked as “champion versus champion” if it was to happen.
It was a mammoth announcement from White, who laid out the full UFC 327 card, which will be held at Miami’s Kaseya Centre.
In the co-main event, flyweight champion Joshua Van will get a chance to truly prove his title credentials as he defends his belt for the first time since dethroning Alexandre Pantoja, whose arm popped out just 26 seconds into their December clash to crown Van the UFC’s second youngest champion ever, behind Jon Jones.
The 24-year-old faces Japan’s Tatsuro Taira, who comes into the bout off the back of finishing former champion Brandon Moreno in December.
Elsewhere on the main card, Dominick Reyes fights Johnny Walker in a clash of long-time light-heavyweight contenders, while Beneil Dariush and Curtis Blaydes are also in action.
The card also boasts a stacked prelims, including names such as Paulo Costa, Kevin Holland, Kelvin Gastelum and Patricio Pitbull.
