UFC 327 Predictions

by Zak Drapeau and Matt Hylen

Sportz Nation - 4/10/2026

Photo by Ed Mulholland/ Zuffa LLC

In our Fight Night Moicano v Duncan Predictions which you can find here,

Zak went 4-2 in picks with 1 correct method for 5 points.

Matt also went 4-2 picks with1 correct method for 5 points.

Points To Date:

Zak: 63 (43-19)

Matt: 53 (37-25)

*All odds courtesy of Caesar's Sportsbook on 4/9

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2Jiri Prochazka vs

3Carlos Ulberg

(Prochazka -120)

Zak Drapeau -

Jiri Prochazka is the uncrowned champion of this division and has only ever lost to Alex Pereira in the UFC. That being said, one could argue about how he could fare against a power puncher like Ulberg considering Pereira knocked him out twice.

If this fight comes down to a decision, I have Prochazka comfortably, so the question is: can Ulberg knock Jiri out? In short, yes he can, but I really believe now that Alex is gone, Jiri will be ready to take the division over. I think he comes into this fight as ready for a fight as he's ever been and even gets the job done in the 2nd or 3rd round.

Prediction: Prochazka by TKO/KO

Matt Hylen -

Man, this one is so tough to predict.

Starting with Jiri Prochazka, he is arguably the most exciting, reckless, and dangerous fighter in the entire UFC all wrapped into one. You can never count him out of fights; there have been multiple occasions where he gets battered around early but comes back and finishes his opponent. He is truly a one-of-a-kind man and one-of-a-kind fighter that I personally love to root for.

As for Carlos Ulberg, he's predominantly a point kickboxer who can be dangerous when he wants to be. He used to have this aggressive sort of style when he was younger, but recently has had a much more relaxed and counter-heavy style. He waits for his shots and delivers if they come.

This will most certainly not make the final horn. I think the outcome of this fight is dependent on whether or not Prochazka can make this a barnburner. If Jiri can make this fight chaotic, he is going to knock out Carlos Ulberg. Otherwise, Ulberg may have an advantage at length.

Prediction: Prochazka by TKO/KO

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6Azamat Murzakanov vs

14Paulo Costa

(Murzakanov -195)

Zak Drapeau -

This fight has a similar feel to me as the Main Event, with Costa being my pick in a decision and Murzakanov looking for the finish. I really have a feeling that Light Heavyweight Costa will be a new beast and could give his career a second renaissance, but will it be enough to beat a guy like Azamat, who is one or two fights away from a title shot?

Murzakanov has some real power in his hands that will be a problem for Costa at all times in the fight. The only way Costa wins this is if he puts on a technical clinic, which would be his finest performance to date. Costa could really thrive in this division, but I don't think it starts here.

Prediction: Murzakanov by TKO/KO

Matt Hylen -

It stinks we won't get to see the Flyweight title at stake for the co-main event, but I do think this fight between Azamat Murzakanov and Paulo Costa could be just as fun.

Starting with Murzakanov, he may not look like your typical scary fighter at Light Heavyweight due to his height and physique, but this guy is extremely skilled and powerful. He has one-punch KO power with amazing timing and great reflexes. If Murzakanov gets his shot, you are going to sleep, simple as that.

As for Costa, he is one of those veterans who used to be incredible but is inconsistent nowadays. However, his last fight showed that he still has a lot left in the tank, as he was able to show off his aggressive kickboxing ability.

This fight will rest on which version of Paulo Costa we get. If we get the version before his last win, he won't survive round 1. With that said, if we get the Costa of old who flashed in his last fight, I would pick Costa against almost anyone.

Prediction: Costa by TKO/KO

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5Curtis Blaydes vs

Josh Hokit

(Blaydes -130)

Zak Drapeau -

Josh Hokit equals pressure. In his last fight, he destroyed Denzel Freeman, but the jump in competition from him to Curtis Blaydes is staggering. The initial battle for control will be intense and should make for one of the most exciting rounds on the entire card.

As long as Blaydes can keep Hokit from taking early control and stay both off the cage and off the ground, he should take this fight. If Hokit comes out on fire again and puts the pressure on Blaydes with ground and pound, we'll get a feel for if the 29-year-old can keep it up because I don't see Blaydes folding early. At the end of the day, I see Blaydes winning rounds 2 and 3 at the very least.

Prediction: Blaydes by Decision

Matt Hylen -

Whether you like the antics or not, Josh Hokit will present a huge challenge for Curtis Blaydes. He is a very solid wrestler by heavyweight standards with a good submission game to go along. He also has quick hands, but is untested to this point. As for Blaydes, he used to be one of the nastiest wrestlers in the entire UFC. He has heavy hands and a brutal ground and pound that will batter any opponent. However, he has declined a bit in recent fights and his chin is far from what it used to be.

Personally, I will be rooting for Blaydes in this fight. I'm not buying into the antics Hokit is presenting, and think that he needs to be humbled a bit if he wants to make a serious push in the UFC. I expect Blaydes to provide Hokit with a humbling experience come Saturday night.

Prediction: Blaydes by Submission

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10Dominick Reyes vs

12Johnny Walker

(Reyes -150)

Zak Drapeau -

I have a feeling this will either be a violent, exciting first-round finish or the proverbial snooze fest of the card, and it might depend on Dominick Reyes. Walker is usually game to throw some crazy kicks or go for a brawl, but in the last two years or so, Reyes is more of a precision striker.

I actually like Walker for this one. His 5" reach advantage should come in huge, and I think he'll be the aggressor as well. Reyes has a grappling advantage that he could take over the fight with, but if it stays standing, and I believe it will, Walker should land significantly more.

Prediction: Walker by Decision

Matt Hylen -

This fight could be a lot of fun to watch. Two washed fighters who have KO ability but also the ability to be KO'd.

Starting with Dominick Reyes, he has loads of talent and is dangerous on the feet, but his chin is awful. His ability to get knocked out has been what prevents him from ever making that leap that his talent shows he can do. Simply put, Reyes could be one of the best fighters in the UFC if he was able to take a punch.

Johnny Walker is very similar to Reyes in the way that the talent is there but the chin is horrific. He is extremely inconsistent with no true fighting style; he will just go out there and do whatever he feels like doing on that given night. With that said, when Walker is on, he is a nightmare to handle.

This is the kind of fight that could end at literally any moment. With the lack of chin these two have, it could be over in one flurry from the opponent. With that said, I do think Reyes is a much more talented striker and will get the job done on Saturday night.

Prediction: Reyes by TKO/KO

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13Patricio Pitbull vs

Aaron Pico

(Pico -330)

Zak Drapeau -

Incredibly, only in his second UFC fight, Aaron Pico will come back to the Octagon after almost being decapitated by Lerone Murphy a little less than a year ago. Now, in a fight with Patricio Pitbull that REALLY should showcase Pico's wrestling, he's coming back with a vengeance.

I really see this fight's takedown total hitting double digits. Pitbull is very good, and his career has been full of incredible fights in Bellator, but Pico is younger, hungrier, and the much better grappler. Three rounds of domination for Pico incoming...

Prediction: Pico by Decision

Matt Hylen -

In all honesty, outside the main event, this is the fight I am most excited to see. Both Aaron Pico and Patricio Pitbull have incredible resumes outside of the UFC but have gotten off to a bit of a rough start.

Starting with Pico, he looked very good in his fight against Lerone Murphy until he didn't. His confidence was his downfall, resulting in his guard being down and him out cold from a spinning elbow. Yet, Pico is still only 29 and could have a very bright future in the UFC. He is a high-level All-American wrestler who also carries a ton of power and KO ability.

As for Pitbull, he was one of the best fighters in the world in his prime. His accuracy was next to none with crazy KO power and a great submission game. However, his prime is definitely over; he has yet to show any gas left in the tank in the UFC.

I think this fight will be dominated by Pico. Yes, he did get knocked out cold in his UFC debut, but that doesn't mean he doesn't have potential. I think Pico will have learned from his mistake last time out and look like a new and improved fighter against Pitbull.

Prediction: Pico by Decision

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8Mateusz Gamrot vs

Esteban Ribovics

(Gamrot -190)

Zak Drapeau -

Here's my wild pick of the day, I actually love Ribovics in this matchup. Possibly having the best takedown defense in the entire division, I think this fight is a clinch fest of both men holding each other on the cage but with Gamrot going something like 1 of 13 on takedowns.

Esteban Ribovics is the better boxer and in between periods of Gamrot's pressure, should be able to piece him up. As long as he doesn't spend the majority of more than one round on the ground, he should win by unanimous.

Prediction: Ribovics by Decision

Matt Hylen -

I am going to have to disagree with Zak on this one. I think this is a matchup nightmare for Esteban Ribovics. Sure, Ribovics is a fun striker with KO ability, but his defense is lackluster with the inevitability that one of these barnburners he creates will not go his way. On the other hand, Mateusz Gamrot is one of the best control wrestlers at 155. He could outwrestle almost anyone at Lightweight, but has been known to lack that grit that turns fighters into elite. His striking is fine, but it is more used as a setup for a takedown.

I think Gamrot wastes no time on the feet and gets Ribovics down early. We haven't really seen what Ribovics can do when faced with a grappling presence like Gamrot. I just don't think it will end well for Esteban.

Prediction: Gamrot by Decision

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2Tatiana Suarez vs

6Loopy Godinez

(Suarez -155)

Zak Drapeau -

Suarez is 8-1 in the UFC and has only lost to Weili Zhang, so Godinez really has her work cut out for her. Godinez's +130 number is actually pretty generous in my eyes and should be even bigger than +200 in my opinion.

Suarez has the wrestling advantage, the experience advantage, and a significant reach advantage. I'm not going to harp on this any longer; if you bet on the UFC, this is the one to bet on.

Prediction: Suarez by Decision

Matt Hylen -

I am shocked this fight is so low on the card. This fight has a lot of potential, especially since it could propel the winner into a title eliminator next.

Starting with Tatiana Suarez, she is the Jiri Prochazka of her division. Outside of Weili, she dominates everyone she faces. She is an absolute machine on the ground with her aggressive grappling style with the tendency to take opponents down and maul them for however long the fight is.

Suarez does face a challenging opponent in Loopy Godinez though, who has shown she can hold her own against anyone. She thrives off her fight IQ, being good enough on the feet to outstrike grapplers and good enough on the ground to outgrapple strikers. She is overall a pretty fun fighter who pushes the pace for however long the fight is.

Since Godinez does not have that elite aspect of her game, this fight should easily go Suarez's way. Outside of Zhang Weili, there has yet to be an opponent for Suarez that she could not dominate.

Prediciton: Suarez by Submission

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