Where We Stand: Light Heavyweight Division | April 2024

Outlook: “Poatan” made it look easy in UFC 300’s main event. He took some time to get his range, and once he got locked in and comfortable, the fight was essentially over. The Brazilian’s power is reaching otherworldly levels of mythology, and he’s confident in taking that power up to heavyweight, an interest he expressed in his Octagon interview. While he is a fascinating potential entrant into that division and seems to have the size to hold his own, he has a pair of contenders of interest at 205 pounds. Magomed Ankalaev distinguished himself as someone very much in the mix after finishing Johnny Walker with ease to kick off 2024, and Pereira expressed interest in the matchup to prove he can handle someone with a well-rounded skillset. There is also the case of Jiří Procházka, whom Pereira dispatched in the second round of their title fight in November 2023. However, Procházka looked like his devastating and unpredictable best in his turnaround win over Aleksandar Rakić at UFC 300. Despite Pereira’s quick work over Procházka last year, it remains a matchup of intrigue.

1) Jiří Procházka

Last Fight: TKO Win vs Aleksandar Rakić (4/13/2024)

Next fight: N/A

Outlook: Procházka reminded everyone why he is such a fascinating contender at 205 pounds. For the better part of his two-round fight with Rakić, Procházka seemed to be on the back foot. A few strikes flipped the script, and the former light heavyweight champion was back on the inside track toward regaining his title. It’s a little tricky with Pereira on top, but other than Ankalaev, Procházka is the only Top 5 light heavyweight coming off a victory. Whether he needs to fight someone like Ankalaev or Jan Błachowicz (depending on his injury timeline) or he gets a quick shot at a rematch with “Poatan,” Procházka is very much in the mix.  

2) Magomed Ankalaev

Last Fight: KO Win vs Johnny Walker (1/13/2024)

Next fight: N/A

Outlook: Ankalaev has had one of the more peculiar runs in the UFC for a top-flight contender. Between a pair of two-fight sagas borne out of premature endings with Johnny Walker and Ion Cutelaba, as well as fighting to a split draw for the vacant light heavyweight title against Błachowicz at UFC 282, Ankalaev hasn’t had the best of luck in the Octagon. As far as what he can control, though, Ankalaev is sharp as can be, which he showed with ease against Walker in their rematch to open 2024. Ankalaev projects to be a stylistic problem for Pereira as someone who can hold their own on the feet, while also possessing good wrestling, as well. All Ankalaev needs is the shot, which he already debatably deserves. If he does need to win one more time to prove his case, he hasn’t yet fought anyone else in the Top 5 outside of Błachowicz.

3) Jamahal Hill

Last Fight: KO Loss vs Alex Pereira (4/13/2024)

Next fight: N/A

Outlook: “Sweet Dreams” never really got going in his fight with Pereira. After the feeling out process, Pereira ended things swiftly with his famous left hook, but Hill remains an intriguing contender. Upon winning the light heavyweight title at UFC 283, Hill rode a four-fight winning (and performance bonus-earning) streak and built a reputation for possessing fight-changing power. He retains that rep, even after an expedient recovery from a torn Achilles, and Hill comes off as someone willing to do the work to rebuild himself after his loss. The 32-year-old Dana White’s Contender Series alumnus surprised many when he initially captured the title over Glover Teixeira, and he likely feels like he is only getting started.  

4) Jan Błachowicz 

Last Fight: Split Decision Loss vs Alex Pereira (7/29/2023)

Next fight: N/A

Outlook: Błachowicz is coming off an odd three-fight stretch since losing the light heavyweight title to Glover Teixeira in October 2021. He first won a bounce-back fight over Rakić because Rakić blew out his knee in the third round of their main event. He followed that with a split draw against Ankalaev for the vacant belt before dropping a split decision to Pereira in Pereira’s divisional debut. None of that suggests Błachowicz is out of the mix to regain his title, but he is up against it, especially at 41 years old and coming off shoulder surgery. His timetable to return is not yet clear but fights with Rakić or Hill both make sense depending on when he gets back in the Octagon. 

5) Aleksandar Rakic

Last Fight: TKO Loss vs Jiří Procházka (4/13/2024)

Next fight: N/A

Outlook: Rakić looked better than ever in his first fight since May 2022. You’d never be able to tell that “Rocket” was coming off a major knee injury as he pieced up Procházka for the better part of a round-and-a-half. However, he got caught and suffered his second loss in a row. Previous to his injury, Rakić built the unfortunate reputation as a more methodical fighter who would make the right choices to win but not always to entertain. He looked nothing of the sort against Procházka as he likely searched for a statement-making win. That said, the 32-year-old Austrian has plenty of options, including fights with Khalil Rountree Jr., Jamahal Hill or a rematch with Błachowicz  whenever the former champ is back at full-health.

In the Mix: Khalil Rountree Jr., Nikita Krylov

Outlook: Perhaps an underrated story is Khalil Rountree Jr.’s rise up the light heavyweight rankings over the last few years. Since September 2021, Rountree strung together four straight wins, three via finish, along with three Performance of the Night bonuses to boot. His last win over Anthony Smith cemented himself as a legitimate person of intrigue on the periphery of the Top 5, and he is prime for a high-profile opportunity next time out. Whether that comes against someone in the Top 5 like Hill or Rakić or someone on the outside like Nikita Krylov, Rountree Jr. is more than deserving of a big fight.

Speaking of Krylov, he has quietly put together a three-fight winning streak dating back to July 2022. He is someone who has been a perennial presence in the rankings and features a well-rounded game that could make him an intriguing fight for anyone in and around the Top 5.