‘Real Reason’ He’s Vacated UFC Light Heavyweight Championship

The UFC was sent into shock on Friday after one of the most groundbreaking announcements the promotion has seen lately. As it is with most of the UFC’s breaking news, it was delivered by Dana White via Instagram Live, with the kind of casual authority that only he can muster.

After months of drama since his fight with Ciryl Gane, you wouldn’t blame anyone for assuming White was taking to Instagram to make an announcement about Tom Aspinall. Given the recent uncertainty surrounding his eye injury and subsequent surgeries, it’s prompted rumours of him vacating his belt and even leaving the UFC.

The British champion’s continued absence has left an already weak heavyweight division short of its marquee fighter, and we’re no closer to knowing when he’ll return, if he even does. But the announcement was nothing to do with him at all.

As much as the live stream was not on the subject of Aspinall, it was still huge news for the heavyweight division, and it likely puts him on notice, should he be planning on a return.

Dana White’s Announcement Huge For UFC

The division has lacked top-bracket talent since the likes of Francis Ngannou walked away and Stipe Miocic’s and Jon Jones’ retirements in the last couple of years. Aspinall’s issues have only deepened that sense of instability, but the division is now set to inherit one of the most dangerous and accomplished strikers in all of combat sports.

That man is Alex Pereira. It’s been confirmed by White that the Brazilian has vacated his light heavyweight title and is finally set to make his heavyweight debut and compete for an unprecedented third UFC title in three different divisions, something nobody has even challenged for, let alone achieved.

Alex Pereira Vacates Light Heavyweight Title

The 38-year-old only reclaimed the light heavyweight belt in October, when he knocked out Magomed Ankalaev at UFC 320, avenging his loss earlier in 2025 and sealing his status as the most dominant force the 205-pound division has seen since Jon Jones. Yet, rather than continue his reign, the Brazilian has set his sights on something far more ambitious, being the “baddest man on the planet.”

With Pereira gone, the light heavyweight title picture has been completely redrawn. Dana White confirmed that former champion Jiri Prochazka and surging contender Carlos Ulberg will now clash for the vacant belt in the UFC 327 main event, scheduled for Miami on the 11th of April.

For Prochazka, the opportunity represents a shot at redemption after suffering two defeats at the hands of Pereira, his only defeats in over a decade. He will be desperate to prove that he belongs at the summit of the division once more, but he can do so now without the shadow of Pereira looming over him.

Ulberg, meanwhile, arrives at this moment on the back of a remarkable run through the light heavyweight top 15. The talented New Zealander has earned his place at the table, and a victory on the night would make him the second New Zealand-born champion in UFC history, after Israel Adesanya.

Alex Pereira Eyeing Heavyweight Domination

With Pereira in the division and hunting down the title, it could set up one of the biggest heavyweight fights fans have witnessed in years, should Aspinall recover and return.

Long gone are the days of the heavyweight division being a conveyor belt of household names like Brock Lesnar, Cain Velasquez, and Randy Couture. It’s in a transitional period where the UFC are waiting for more stars to emerge and consistently contend at the top, and it could be some years before it gets closer to that.

With the heavyweight division crying out for bigger and better fighters, Pereira stepping up is a breath of fresh air. A divisional debut that leads directly to a heavyweight title shot looks almost inevitable, and the prospect of Pereira terrorising the big men of the UFC is one that fight fans will be counting down to.

With the possibility of him becoming the first three-weight UFC champion in history, it’s a moment that could put him in a league of his own and, in turn, preserve the future of the heavyweight division.