Three marquee fights across two weekends will shape the immediate future of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Light Heavyweight division — and most likely decide the next title challenger.
That’s
because the 205 lb title is being defended next weekend (Sat., Oct. 4, 2025) at UFC 320 as champion Magomed Ankalaev rematches former kingpin Alex Pereira inside the T-Mobile in Las Vegas, Nevada — and that’s not all. In the “Featured” bout of UFC 320, former champion Jiri Prochazka takes on former title challenger Khalil Rountree, and at UFC Perth this weekend (Sat., Sept. 27, 2025), No. 3-ranked Carlos Ulberg takes on two-time former title challenger Dominick Reyes.
So, with the mini unofficial Light Heavyweight tournament unfolding before our eyes, a future title challenger will be revealed, right?
Well, Ankalaev only has his eyes on one of them — “Black Jaguar.”
“To be honest, the main event fight this weekend between Reyes and Ulberg is much more interesting because [Prochazka and Rountree] fought for the title multiple times and we’ve already watched them in title fights,” Ankalaev told the media through a translator during an open workout. “The fight coming up this week has new guys — I mean, yeah, Reyes fought for the title before, but Ulberg hasn’t. I’m much more interested in this fight.”
Ultimately, Ankalaev will fight anyone the promotion wants.
“I’m the sitting champion, and whoever is next, I will be ready to defend my title,” Ankalaev concluded.
All four men fighting for the right to compete for the title have a decent case to be next.
- Ulberg holds the longest win streak in the division behind Ankalaev.
- Reyes, a two-time former title challenger, is currently in a redemption arc.
- Prochazka is ranked No. 2 and a former champion with some beef with “Big Ank.”
- Rountree, ranked No. 4, is a former title challenger, is more popular than ever, and also has beef.
But before deciding his next opponent, Ankalaev must get through a motivated and angry Pereira, who is out for blood.
