Alex Poatan is on track to make history in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), but he has left a significant void in the light heavyweight division (up to 93 kg). The Brazilian fighter vacated the title and is scheduled to face Ciryl Gane for the interim heavyweight title (up to 120,2 kg) at UFC Casa Branca on June 14th. Given this development, the SUPER LUTAS team decided to answer a question that arose: what happens to the light heavyweight division without the Brazilian?
Before analyzing the scenario of the division without Alex Poatan , it is necessary to outline what is already concrete. In this sense, UFC 327, which takes place this Saturday (11), marks the first big step for the category without the Brazilian. This is because Jiri Prochazka faces Carlos Ulberg in the main fight of the event, in a confrontation that is worth the vacant title.
Poatan's victims get a new chance in the light heavyweight division.
Jiri Prochazka and Magomed Ankalaev are standouts in the UFC light heavyweight division. Photo: SUPER LUTAS montage
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Following in the footsteps of Jiri Prochazka , who will soon be fighting for the title, Magomed Ankalaev , Khalil Rountree , and Jamahal Hill renew their hopes of reaching the belt with the rise of Alex Poatan . The trio were brutally knocked out by the Brazilian and would hardly have a rematch in the short term if he were still at the top.
The path, however, tends to be different for each one. Ankalaev, who managed to beat the Brazilian at UFC 313 but ended up being knocked out at UFC 320, apparently only needs one more victory to return to the title fight. Khalil Rountree , who recently lost to Jiri Prochazka , will have to work a little harder.
For Jamahal Hill , the scenario is more complicated. With three consecutive losses, the American needs to regain the fans' confidence and, certainly, pay attention to who is climbing in the rankings before thinking about a new climb towards the title.
New generation of light heavyweights gains momentum in the race.
Ulberg won at UFC Perth . Photo: Reproduction/X/UFCBrasil
Just like Carlos Ulberg , who will fight for the title, Azamat Murzakanov , Bogdan Guskov , Dustin Jacoby , and Zhang Mingyang are gaining momentum to become the new protagonists of the 93 kg division. Without Poatan, seen as the UFC's biggest star today, the spotlight on the category tends to redistribute. In this scenario, the quartet of knockout artists increases their chances of winning over the public and, consequently, reaching the belt.
Veterans attempt another climb in the category.
Jan Blachowicz is a former UFC light heavyweight champion. Photo: Reproduction/Instagram
Besides Johnny Walker and Dominick Reyes , who also face off at UFC 327 looking to leave their slump behind, Jan Blachowicz , Volkan Oezdemir , Aleksandar Rakic , and Nikita Krylov make up the group of veterans who see a new horizon in the division after Alex Poatan 's departure.
Poatan's absence in the light heavyweight division causes a mass rise in the middleweight division.
P. Borrachinha once again provoked K. Chimaev (Photo: Montagem/SUPER FIGHTS)
In addition to the diverse profiles that make up the light heavyweight division, Alex Poatan 's move up may have triggered an exodus of fighters from the middleweight division (up to 83,9 kg). Leading the movement, Paulo Borrachinha was the first to change weight classes and will face Azamat Murzakanov at UFC 327.
In addition to the Brazilian fighter, Robert Whittaker , Reinier De Ridder , and Khamzat Chimaev have made it clear that they also intend to move up and should soon be competing in the 93 kg division.
Caio Borralho , the best Brazilian in the middleweight rankings, in an exclusive interview with SUPER LUTAS , denied a change of weight class, but indicated that his teammates' decision is directly linked to Alex Poatan 's promotion.
“I’m a middleweight, I want to stay at my weight… But if they want to move up, fine, let them. They think it’s going to be easy. That’s a thought many people have regarding the light heavyweight division, also because Jon Jones and Poatan are no longer there. Because when Poatan was in the division, nobody wanted to move up; now that he’s going to heavyweight, everyone wants to move up,” said Caio Borralho.
Johnny Walker opens up about his heavyweight debut at UFC 332.
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