Joe Rogan has made a prediction about the UFC light heavyweight division’s future, naming Paulo Costa as the man who will eventually hold the title following Carlos Ulberg’s ACL injury.
Rogan made the prediction on his podcast, pointing to the combination of Ulberg’s extended absence and Costa’s recent move to 205 pounds as the circumstances that could propel the Brazilian to championship gold. Costa made his light heavyweight debut at UFC 327, finishing the previously undefeated Azamat Murzakanov with a head kick in the third round of the co-main event.
Ulberg suffered a torn ACL during his first-round knockout of Jiri Prochazka at the same event, with surgery already completed and a recovery timeline that could keep him out until 2027. The vacancy at the top of the division creates a clear path for contenders to position themselves for a title shot.
Costa has spent the bulk of his UFC career at middleweight, where he challenged for the championship against Israel Adesanya. He has been open about the physical toll of cutting to 185 pounds and has discussed a potential move to light heavyweight on multiple occasions. His UFC 327 performance made the move official and gave him immediate credibility in the new division.
No timeline has been confirmed for Costa’s next fight, though he has already called out Khamzat Chimaev for a cross-divisional matchup.