Former two-weight champion, Alex Pereira has revealed plans to make both a heavyweight division leap — or a transfer to skilled boxing had been scuppered off the again of his title battle loss to Magomed Ankalaev at UFC 313.
Pereira, who headlined the promotion’s flagship return to North America earlier this month, dropped his mild heavyweight crown in a controversial and much-debated unanimous choice (48-47, 48-47, 49-46) defeat to arch-rival, Ankalaev.
With the blemish, Pereira noticed his unbeaten run on the mild heavyweight restrict come to an finish in addition. Simply final 12 months, Pereira had turned in a trio of consecutive knockout wins over title challengers, Jamahal Hill, Jiri Prochazka, and Khalil Rountree in a surprising marketing campaign annum.
And forward of his UFC 313 return, Pereira was linked massively with an anticipated heavyweight transfer — to tackle a mixture of both champions, Jon Jones, or Tom Aspinall in a big tremendous battle later this 12 months.
Moreover, the previous GLORY Kickboxing kingpin was additionally welcomed as a possible opponent by former undisputed world heavyweight boxing champion, Oleksandr Usyk.
Alex Pereira deliberate heavyweight transfer with UFC 313 victory
And based on the Sao Paulo star, he was focusing on both a type of choices subsequent earlier than dropping his belt to Ankalaev earlier this month.
“The next reasonable step would be his weight class to defend,” Plinio Cruz translated for Alex Pereira throughout his interview with Ariel Helwani for Uncrowned. “But if it was his choice, he wouldn’t have defended the title after that fight [with Magomed Ankalaev at UFC 313]. He would have gone to heavyweight, UFC or boxing.”
Alex Pereira nonetheless believes he gained rounds 1,3, and 5 at UFC 313.
“That definitely was not my best performance. I definitely was not on. It was more like an off day. I didn’t feel right.” pic.twitter.com/CJaqFvT9Jt
— Ariel Helwani (@arielhelwani) March 26, 2025
However subsequent on the agenda for the previous duel-weight champion seems to be a direct title rematch with Ankalaev, with each claiming a possible August assembly on a flagship card within the UFC works for them.
