Khamzat Chimaev vs. Jiří Procházka Reportedly Targeted for UFC 327 Main Event
UFC middleweight champion Khamzat Chimaev is reportedly being focused to face former mild heavyweight champion Jiří Procházka for the vacant UFC mild heavyweight title in the principle occasion of UFC 327 on April 11 on the Kaseya Center in Miami, Florida.
The rumor was first reported by MMA content material creator @realkevink on social media. UFC has not formally confirmed the matchup
The report suggests Chimaev (15-0) would vacate his middleweight title to pursue a second championship at 205 kilos, bypassing any protection of the belt he received by dominating Dricus du Plessis at UFC 319 in August.
On his JAXXON Podcast look Friday, Chimaev expressed his need to turn out to be a two-division champion. “I want to become double champion,” Chimaev stated. “I am not like these guys who try to take their retirement from UFC undefeated. I just want to make big fights.”
The transfer to mild heavyweight would mark the third weight class of Chimaev’s UFC profession after competing at each welterweight and middleweight. Former welterweight champion Kamaru Usman just lately urged on his Pound 4 Pound podcast that Chimaev has merely outgrown 185 kilos, with studies putting his strolling weight between 225 and 230 kilos.
Procházka (32-5-1) has rebuilt momentum within the mild heavyweight division with back-to-back stoppage victories over Jamahal Hill at UFC 311 in January 2025 and Khalil Rountree Jr. at UFC 320 in October 2025. The former champion’s solely UFC losses have come in opposition to Alex Pereirawho’s extensively anticipated to vacate the 205-pound title to pursue a heavyweight transfer.
Notably, this report conflicts with an earlier rumor from Brazilian outlet MMA Hoje, which focused Procházka vs. Carlos Ulberg for the vacant mild heavyweight title at UFC 327, with Pereira dealing with Ciryl Gane for interim heavyweight gold at UFC 328. Whether the Chimaev matchup has changed that plan or represents a competing report stays unclear.
The UFC 327 card is already taking form with a confirmed co-main occasion that includes flyweight champion Joshua Van defending his title in opposition to Tatsuro Taira. Additional bouts embrace Dominick Reyes vs. Johnny Walker, Kevin Holland vs. Randy Brown, and Paulo Costa’s mild heavyweight debut in opposition to Azamat Murzakanov.
