3 biggest storylines ahead of UFC 327

UFC 327 is upon us.

In Saturday's main event, Jiri Prochazka and Carlos Ulberg square off for the vacant light heavyweight title. In the co-headliner, Azamat Murzakanov welcomes Paulo Costa to 205 pounds.

Here are three key storylines ahead of the UFC's return to Kaseya Center in Miami.

A Prochazka title reign is exactly what the UFC needs right now

It's no secret the UFC has faced increased scrutiny over event quality and matchmaking in recent months. Too many cards have lacked star power, and the promotion has struggled to deliver meaningful, quality fights from top to bottom.

What would inject some life back into the sport? Prochazka with the belt around his waist.

Prochazka, who already held the light heavyweight title for a brief period in 2022, is one of the most entertaining fighters in MMA. Throughout his six-year UFC career, the 33-year-old Czech has produced a Fight of the Year candidate, some of the most vicious knockouts you'll ever see, and a handful of epic comebacks. Thirty-one of his 32 professional wins are finishes, and he's never gone the distance in the Octagon.

Having a fan favorite like Prochazka as champion again would do only good for Dana White and Co.

Will Murzakanov get his due if he beats Costa?

Speaking of the light heavyweight division, one rising contender who has flown completely under the radar is Murzakanov, an undefeated Russian who's 6-0 in the UFC with five knockouts.

Ranked No. 6 in the weight class, Murzakanov hasn't garnered much buzz throughout his Octagon tenure so far - even a first-round finish of Aleksandar Rakic at UFC 321 last October wasn't enough to get the MMA fanbase talking about him. But make no mistake: in what has become one of the shallowest divisions in the UFC, Murzakanov is one of the few bright spots.

Should he get past Costa, a former middleweight title challenger who is moving up to 205 pounds, Murzakanov will start to get his flowers - and be on everybody's radar as a title contender.

Can Hokit save the heavyweight division?

Heavyweight prospect Josh Hokit is getting a massive step up in competition this weekend against perennial contender Curtis Blaydes.

Hokit has made headlines for his Colby Covington- and Chael Sonnen-esque shtick, but the 28-year-old American has also delivered impressive results in the cage, winning two in a row since debuting in the UFC last November. Heavyweight is also one of the weakest divisions in the promotion, and Hokit might be here to save the day.

But in order to do that, he'll have to take out Blaydes, who has only ever lost to Francis Ngannou, Derrick Lewis, Sergei Pavlovich, and current heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall. Blaydes has consistently been one of the best fighters in the division over the last decade.

If Hokit beats Blaydes - which won't be an easy task - he'll skyrocket into title contention, and the heavyweight division will finally have the fresh blood it desperately needs.