Reports indicate that former two-division UFC champion Alex Pereira is currently dissatisfied with the promotion, leading to speculation about his immediate and long-term fighting future.
Earlier this week, the 37-year-old fighter shared a veiled message on social media alluding to a disagreement with the UFC. Without specifying the exact nature of the issue, Pereira wrote, “I always answered the UFC’s calls, but if they want to play with me, we can do that. I’ve never spoken poorly of the UFC but with what I’ve just heard I’m disheartened.”
He further added a concerning note: “I’ve already had thoughts of not fighting anymore, and after what was just relayed to me this may be the start.”
The timing and motivation behind Pereira`s public statement are not entirely clear. “Poatan” recently lost his light heavyweight title to Magomed Ankalaev at UFC 313 in March, and there has been no official announcement regarding his next fight. While an immediate rematch has been discussed as a possibility, nothing has been confirmed.
Prior to the loss against Ankalaev, Pereira`s name was linked to potential high-profile matchups, including a superfight against UFC heavyweight champion Jon Jones or a challenge from middleweight champion Dricus du Plessis moving up in weight.
In the past three years, Pereira has rapidly ascended to become one of the UFC`s most prominent and consistent attractions. After dedicating himself fully to mixed martial arts in 2021 following a distinguished kickboxing career, he pursued and defeated his longtime rival Israel Adesanya to claim the middleweight title at UFC 281. Following a loss in their rematch, Pereira transitioned to the light heavyweight division, where he secured his second title and successfully defended it three times during a notable 2024 campaign.
The specific reasons behind Pereira`s apparent issues with the UFC are unknown and could potentially relate to opponent selection, the timing of his next bout, a financial disagreement, or other factors.
UPDATE: Alex Pereira later claimed that his social media account had been hacked.
