Dana White Gets Fascinating Suggestion From Champion Regarding Top UFC 205lbs Contenders

UFC light heavyweight division could come up with interesting matchups after champion suggests Dana White to book exciting bouts.

Dana White Gets Fascinating Suggestion From Champion Regarding Top UFC 205lbs Contenders

Dana White asked by UFC champion to book fights (Image via UFC.com/theScore)

UFC light heavyweight star, Magomed Ankalaev, kept himself in the title picture after finishing Bogdan Guskov at UFC Abu Dhabi. The main event bout saw Ankalaev outstrike Guskov before getting a finish in the fifth round in front of the division’s champion, Carlos Ulberg. With that, the 205lbs champion had some interesting matchmaking suggestions to give Dana White.

Ulberg is still not cleared to return after winning the title against Jiri Prochazka at UFC 327. The injury he suffered is likely to keep the light heavyweight champion from competing until early next year. As such, the division needs movement to avoid stagnation in the mean time.

One option is an interim title fight, but so far, the promotion hasn’t considered that possibility. Hence, Ulberg laid out best logical fights in the division to determine the next title challenger. He also included Paulo Costa and Khalil Rountree along with Ankalaev and Prochazka in his suggestion to the UFC CEO.

Ankalaev vs Jiri. Give them both a full camp. It’s a fight the division deserves, and stylistically it’s one the fans would love to see. Costa vs Rountree. That’s the wildcard. High risk, high reward. Someone’s leaving with serious momentum. By the time the dust settles, I’ll be ready. Whoever earns it. See you in 2027.

Carlos Ulberg via Instagram Story

Ankalaev was supposed to face Rountree at UFC Abu Dhabi before the American pulled out due to an injury. Meanwhile, Paulo Costa remains the dark horse of the division after knocking out the previously undefeated Azamat Murzakanov at UFC 327.

Ankalaev and Prochazka has beef, and the duo traded insults at each other numerous times in the last year. It is also one of the fights that fans have yet to see in the division despite both of them being ranked at the top for the better part of five years.

Ulberg’s injury setback could see Dana White book Ankalaev vs Prochazka in the latter part of 2026 along with the return of Rountree and Costa. It remains to be seen if either of these matchups become a reality as the UFC CEO and top brass has a huge task of figuring this division out moving forward.

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Paulo Costa and Magomed Ankalaev hypes up a future bout in the UFC light heavyweight division

Magomed Ankalaev wants to win back the light heavyweight championship at all cost. He lost the title to Alex Pereira in the first round of their UFC 320 main event. With Ulberg out of competition, Ankalaev wants to stay active in the division.

UFC stars Paulo Costa and Magomed Ankalaev goes back-and-forth
UFC stars Paulo Costa and Magomed Ankalaev goes back-and-forth (Image via Bloody Elbow/MMA Fighting)

To that end, the Russian fighter indicated a desire to face Paulo Costa for his next bout. Costa is riding a huge momentum after taking out two Russian fighters in a row. Before defeating Murzakanov at UFC 327, the Brazilian dominated Roman Kopylov at UFC 318.

With such a momentum behind him, Costa could land a title shot with one more victory in the 205lbs division. Hence, Ankalaev called for a bout against the popular Brazilian fighter to attain the next title shot.

We don’t know when our champion is going to come back. If he’s going to be out for a long time, I’d like to stay active. So if the champion is indeed going to be out, then maybe we can have a good fight with Costa – unless he’s the one running away.

Magomed Ankalaev via UFC Abu Dhabi post-fight presser

Costa is never one to shy away from letting people know what he thinks. Not only did he criticize the UFC Abu Dhabi main event, the Brazilian also indicated his desire to save the division from boredom. Reminding everyone of his two wins over Russian fighters, Costa welcomed a matchup with Ankalaev on X.

With Prochazka, Ankalaev, Rountree and Costa in the mix, the promotion has enough star power to keep the division going in the absence of the champion. In the coming weeks, Dana White and the top brass will likely attempt to figure out the division’s matchmaking to keep the fans excited.

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