Joe Rogan is calling for the UFC light heavyweight division to keep moving forward while Carlos Ulberg recovers from injury.

Carlos Ulberg recently became the light heavyweight champion after a surprise knockout win over Jiri Prochazka in the main event of UFC 327. But the victory came at a cost, with ‘Black Jag’ tearing his ACL and requiring surgery.

Following his surgery in Las Vegas, the 35-year-old is facing an extended spell on the sidelines as he works through his recovery.

Paulo Costa made his light heavyweight debut on the same card, facing Azamat Murzakanov in the co-main event.

Costa, a former middleweight title challenger, stopped Murzakanov in the third round and immediately entered the top 10 of the light heavyweight rankings.

Speaking on his podcast, Joe Rogan praised Costa’s performance and said it was the best he had ever looked inside the Octagon.

“Murzakanov, I was so impressed that he just wouldn’t abandon that strategy of going after Paulo Costa. But (Costa) looked f—— phenomenal, if I was in his corner, I would say ‘dude, never go back to middleweight, you are a light heavyweight champion’.”

The UFC is currently dealing with an uncertain title picture at 205lbs following Ulberg’s injury. Dana White has already said they’ll figure out what comes next and hasn’t ruled out an interim belt while Ulberg recovers.

If it were up to Rogan though, Costa would be a lock for one side of that fight.

“If I was the f—— captain of the ship that’s what I would do (an interim light heavyweight title fight). I would go, ‘hey Paulo, you’re a f—— star’. Maybe against (Magomed) Ankalaev. I know (Alex) Pereira just knocked him out but he deserves to be in it,” Rogan suggested.

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