Home of Fight Expert Picks: UFC 327
UFC 327 lands in Miami this Saturday at Kaseya Center, and from top to bottom, it might be the most violently entertaining card of 2026.
The night closes with the vacant light heavyweight title on the line as Jiri Prochazka meets Carlos Ulberg. Prochazka is one of the most unhinged strikers in UFC history, a walking highlight reel who courts danger to create it. Ulberg, meanwhile, has quietly put together a 13-1 record with serious knockout power of his own. Expect chaos.
In the co-main, Paulo Costa makes the move up to 205 to clash with the undefeated Azamat Murzakanov, who has five stoppages in six UFC wins, a massive test for both men’s title ambitions. Curtis Blaydes then gets a look at undefeated rising heavyweight Josh Hokit in a fight that could either fast-track Hokit to stardom or remind him exactly where he stands. Dominick Reyes and Johnny Walker continue the undercard in a 205-pound slugfest between two knockout artists with fragile chins and something to prove. The card opens on the main slate with Cub Swanson’s retirement bout against Nate Landwehr, a proper sendoff for one of the featherweight’s all-time entertainers. This is a must-watch night of fights.
With a great fight card on tap, money can be made at the sportsbook this Saturday night. Home of Fight is here to help put money in your pockets and cash out at the window this Saturday night. Let’s take a look at the Home of Fight expert picks for UFC 327.
Jiri Prochazka vs. Carlos Ulberg
HayJive – Carlos Ulberg
- “I’ll take Carlos Ulberg here. This is a tough fight to call, but I think he has the early finish upside. Procházka is always dangerous, but Ulberg’s speed and power give him a real edge early.”
Nolan (TheParlay) – Carlos Ulberg
- “The love for Jiri is blinding people of how tough of a matchup this is. Ulberg is precise and very very skilled.”
JJ (TheOctagonKings) – Jiri Prochazka
- “Ulberg can be technical, but Jiri is lethal. Ulberg has power, and can even hurt Jiri, but with Jiri, especially over 5 Rounds, that does not matter.”
The Fight Analyst – Carlos Ulberg
- “With Alex Pereira now moving up to heavyweight, Carlos Ulberg is now the most technical striker in the light heavyweight division. Being a tactician will help in this title fight against an aggressive striker who lacks defense like Jiri Prochazka. As long as Ulberg doesn’t slow down like Khalil Rountree and avoids the big shots, he should be able to put away Prochazka at some point in this fight to become the new champ.”
Austin Swaim – Carlos Ulberg
- “I’ve learned this week how little the public respects Carlos Ulberg. He’s got the best striking success rate (+2.50) in the light heavyweight rankings with elite takedown D. Jiri Prochazka’s reckless style has forced him to rally against smaller, less powerful strikers. Ulberg has already proven to be cool under pressure with slick counters, and Prochazka’s attrition continues to mount through annual wars.”
Azamat Murzakanov vs. Paulo Costa
HayJive – Paulo Costa
- “Give me the underdog in Costa. His kicking game should be effective against the southpaw stance, and I’m not convinced Murzakanov will have his usual speed advantage here. If Costa can keep this at range, he has a strong path to win.”
Nolan (TheParlay) – Azamat Murzakanov
- “Paulo has went up a weight class before and lost decisively to Marvin Vettori. Azamat is a far better fighter right now.”
JJ (TheOctagonKings) – Paulo Costa
- “Both guys don’t have a ton of volume and rely on power shots, though I believe Costa has more experience against higher opposition to help him get it done.”
The Fight Analyst – Azamat Murzakanov
- “This should be a fun fight for however long it lasts. Both Azamat Murzakanov and Paulo Costa have the power to put each other way, but it will be Murzkanov’s power that will be the difference maker in the fight. He puts away Costa midway through the fight, extending his unbeaten streak to 17.”
Austin Swaim – Azamat Murzakanov
- “Murzakanov is the 205-pound MMA version of Tim Duncan. He’s gritty, fundamental, and effective. His striking defense being 11 percentage points higher than Paulo Costa’s could tell the story of the fight when Costa’s volume has historically been stymied by opponents who protect their head well.”
Curtis Blaydes vs. Josh Hokit
HayJive – Josh Hokit
- “Another underdog shot. Blaydes could be on the decline, and Hokit brings athleticism, speed, and wrestling upside. With something to prove, I like him to show up here.”
Nolan (TheParlay) – Josh Hokit
- “Hokit is surging and will continue improving while Blaydes is on the balk half of his career. Blaydes doesn’t like pressure and Hokit will press the entire fight.”
JJ (TheOctagonKings) – Josh Hokit
- “I believe Hokit has a speed advantage, paired with more power on the feet and the counter wrestling to get Blaydes off of him, leading him to finding the openings he needs.”
The Fight Analyst – Curtis Blaydes
- “I truly believe Curtis Blaydes will have to be the absolute worst version of himself to lose to someone like Josh Hokit, which is certainly plausible at this stage of his career. However, Blaydes’ only losses in his UFC career have come against current/former champs or former title challengers. As for Hokit’s level of competition, it is nonexistent, and his game is predicated on bum-rushing low-level opposition and overwhelming them. If Blaydes can weather the early storm and his chin can take a punch, he should be able to take over down the stretch and put an end to the Josh Hokit hype train.”
Austin Swaim – Josh Hokit
- “After he failed to floor Rizvan Kuniev, what are you hanging your hat on with Curtis Blaydes’ skillset in 2026? Hokit has shown great pace and speed so far, and he’s a great athlete you’re not going to get down with basic double legs. This feels like UFC pushing a polarizing star.”
Dominick Reyes vs. Johnny Walker
HayJive – Johnny Walker
- “This feels like a “who lands first” type of fight. Both guys have durability concerns, so it could come down to who connects clean early. I’ll take Walker in a volatile matchup.”
Nolan (TheParlay) – Johnny Walker
- “This is a coin flip so I’ll go with the dog. Walker has a little confidence now, and Reyes is coming off a nasty KO loss and has taken so much damage over the years.”
JJ (TheOctagonKings) – Johnny Walker
- “More unpredictable, more power and can find Reyes with his unorthodox techniques.”
The Fight Analyst – Dominick Reyes
- “This is the most volatile fight on the main card. I thoroughly expect one of these two to get floored in the first round. However, I believe Dominick Reyes is just a bit more technical and can land the big shot before Johnny Walker does.”
Austin Swaim – Dominick Reyes
- “This light heavyweight battle could get weird, but Dominick Reyes has the pocket boxing that has notoriously given Johnny Walker problems if this ends early, and I also trust his volume more in a longer fight. Walker isn’t just KO or bust; he’s flashy highlight or bust.”
Cub Swanson vs. Nate Landwehr
HayJive – Cub Swanson
- “I like what I’ve seen from Swanson more than Landwehr lately. His unorthodox boxing should give Landwehr problems, especially early. I could see him finding a finish here.”
Nolan (TheParlay) – Nate Landwehr
- “Nate is a good bit younger, and if you can’t put him out cold he makes it hell for opponents. I’m not sure how a 42 year old Swanson holds up here.”
JJ (TheOctagonKings) – Nate Landwehr
- “Swanson is a legend and has many highlights, but Nate the Train can handle pressure and aggression well, which is why I think he will win this fight by DEC, even if he gets hurt.”
The Fight Analyst – Cub Swanson
- “This is the type of fight that Cub Swanson needs to finish out his career. He gets an opponent in Nate Landwehr, who’s going to stand right in front of him and let it all go. While Swanson has declined in his old age, what hasn’t fallen off a cliff is his chin and his toughness. He should be able to hang in there and take the best shots from Landwehr and give him his 5th KO loss and ride off into the sunset.”
Austin Swaim – Cub Swanson
- “Nate Landwehr is the perfect defense-optional opponent for Cub’s retirement fight. He’s been dropped in 3 of his last 5 fights and arguably had to rally in all of them. Swanson showed the power was still present in his last fight, and he’s maintained a solid striking success rate (+0.79) into his 40s.”
🔍 Want to know more about each event? Visit homeoffight.com or any of our social media accounts for more articles, fighter interviews, and plenty of additional coverage.
💰 Want to get in on the action? Visit homeoffight.com/picks to tail all of the Home of Fight expert’s picks & bets each week!
