A significant moment in mixed martial arts is on the horizon as 19-year-old Alice Pereira prepares to step into the Ultimate Fighting Championship octagon. Sources close to the promotion’s plans have confirmed that Pereira is scheduled to make her highly anticipated UFC debut against Montserrat Rendon at Noche UFC 3.
The event is slated to take place on September 13th at the Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, Texas. Should the bout proceed as planned, Pereira will officially become the youngest female fighter ever to compete under the UFC banner, marking a historic milestone in the sport.
Pereira, who carries an undefeated professional record into her UFC debut, has rapidly made a name for herself. Competing primarily at bantamweight, she has demonstrated a remarkable ability to finish her opponents early in her career. In her most recent outing in December, the fighter known as “Golden Girl” captured the Cage Masters FC bantamweight title with a decision victory over a significantly more experienced veteran in Samara Santos.
Her impressive performances did not go unnoticed. Less than two weeks after securing the Cage Masters title, Pereira received the call that aspiring fighters only dream of – a direct signing offer to the UFC, delivered personally via a FaceTime call from UFC matchmaker Mick Maynard. A rather modern way to kick off a potentially legendary career, wouldn`t you agree?
Across the octagon stands Montserrat Rendon, making her third appearance inside the UFC cage. Rendon began her promotional run with a victory over Tamires Vidal but faced a setback in her last fight, dropping a decision to Darya Zheleznyakova at UFC Vegas 89 in March 2024. For Rendon, this bout represents an opportunity to rebound and test the mettle of one of the UFC`s youngest-ever signings.
The Noche UFC 3 event itself is headlined by a compelling featherweight contest featuring recent title challenger Diego Lopes taking on surging contender Jean Silva. However, for many, the night will hold particular interest in witnessing the professional transition of Alice Pereira, a fighter whose age belies her professional accomplishments and the immense pressure of a UFC debut.
All eyes will be on San Antonio on September 13th to see if the “Golden Girl” can shine brightly on the sport`s biggest stage and begin writing a potentially historic chapter in UFC history.
