Alex Pereira News

Alex Pereira post-fight interview
Magomed Ankalaev

Alex Pereira attempts to explain Magomed Ankalaev conflict as tension builds

Harry Kettle - September 30, 2025

Alex Pereira has given his thoughts on the ongoing conflict between himself and Magomed Ankalaev ahead of UFC 320. In the last few years, Alex Pereira has been a real MVP for the Ultimate Fighting Championship. He is always willing to take on whatever challenge they throw his way and because of that, he has earned the respect of the masses in the world of mixed martial arts.

Alex Pereira reacts following a loss to Magomed Ankalaev at UFC 313
Magomed Ankalaev

Alex Pereira's knockout power questioned by Magomed Ankalaev's coach ahead of UFC 320

Curtis Calhoun - September 29, 2025

Former UFC light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira doesn’t have one-punch knockout power, according to Magomed Ankalaev’s longtime coach. UFC light heavyweight champion Magomed Ankalaev’s first title defense will come against the man he won a title against, Alex Pereira, in the UFC 320 main event this Saturday in Las Vegas. The rematch comes just months after Ankalaev defeated Pereira by unanimous decision to end Pereira’s historic light heavyweight title reign.

Alex Pereira
Magomed Ankalaev

Alex Pereira plans to 'put on a show' against Magomed Ankalaev at UFC 320: 'Going to be a great fight'

Cole Shelton - September 29, 2025

Alex Pereira plans to put on a great performance to reclaim his light heavyweight title against Magomed Ankalaev at UFC 320. Pereira suffered a decision loss to Ankalaev earlier this year to lose his title, and he’s getting an immediate rematch. Although the first fight wasn’t too close, Pereira is confident that he has all the tools to pull off the upset and reclaim his belt.

Alex Pereira vs Magomed Ankalaev
Magomed Ankalaev

Magomed Ankalaev believes Alex Pereira may have greased in their first fight

Harry Kettle - September 29, 2025

Magomed Ankalaev has suggested that Alex Pereira may have been greasing during their first fight earlier this year. At UFC 313 earlier this year, Magomed Ankalaev defeated Alex Pereira to become the new UFC light heavyweight champion. It was the moment he’d waited his entire career for, and it had finally arrived. Now, at UFC 320 on Saturday night, the two will run it back as ‘Big Ank’ attempts to successfully defend the strap for the first time.

Carlos Ulberg
Carlos Ulberg

Carlos Ulberg explains why he prefers to face Magomed Ankalaev over Alex Pereira

Cole Shelton - September 25, 2025

Carlos Ulberg will be rooting for Magomed Ankalaev to defeat Alex Pereira at UFC 320. Ankalaev is set to defend his light heavyweight title in a rematch against Pereira. Ankalaev earned a decision win over Pereira earlier this year to win the belt, and Ulberg is hoping the result will be the same.

Alex Pereira UFC Walkout
Rashad Evans

Alex Pereira's trash talk ahead of UFC 320 rematch is a good sign, says Hall of Famer

Fernando Quiles Jr. - September 25, 2025

One MMA legend believes Alex Pereira’s rants ahead of UFC 320 are a good thing for “Poatan.” Pereira will have a chance to regain the UFC Light Heavyweight Championship when he collides with Magomed Ankalaev in a rematch on Oct. 4. “Poatan” lost the 205-pound title to Ankalaev back in March at UFC 313. Pereira was moving backwards throughout the fight and ended up dropping a unanimous decision.

Magomed Ankalaev
Magomed Ankalaev

Magomed Ankalaev sends a dangerous warning to Alex Pereira

Harry Kettle - September 25, 2025

UFC light heavyweight champion Magomed Ankalaev has issued a pretty clear warning to Alex Pereira ahead of their UFC 320 rematch. Next weekend, Magomed Ankalaev will defend his UFC light heavyweight championship for the first time. He will do so against Alex Pereira, the same man that he beat for the belt earlier this year. As you can imagine, there’s a lot of excitement in the air for this showdown, with many believing that ‘Big Ank’ has enough in the tank to pick up a second win over ‘Poatan’.

Alex Pereira
Magomed Ankalaev

Alex Pereira hits out at Magomed Ankalaev following UFC PI close call

Harry Kettle - September 24, 2025

Alex Pereira has lashed out at Magomed Ankalaev following a close run-in between the two ahead of UFC 320. In the main event of UFC 320, Alex Pereira will challenge Magomed Ankalaev for the UFC light heavyweight championship. It comes after Ankalaev was able to take the title away from ‘Poatan’ earlier this year, with many being left to wonder whether or not the Brazilian would be able to turn his fortunes around in the rematch.

Alex Pereira reacts after his loss to Magomed Ankalaev at UFC 313
Magomed Ankalaev

MMA analyst questions Alex Pereira's first fight strategy against Magomed Ankalaev

Harry Kettle - September 23, 2025

MMA analyst Dan Hardy has questioned Alex Pereira’s strategy in his first fight against Magomed Ankalaev. In the main event of UFC 320, Alex Pereira will challenge Magomed Ankalaev for the UFC light heavyweight championship. It comes in the wake of their first meeting, in which Ankaalev was able to take the belt away from ‘Poatan’ in a performance that didn’t show the best that the Brazilian had to offer.

Alex Pereira Magomed Ankalaev UFC 313 weigh-ins
UFC

Alex Pereira: "The story will be over" with Magomed Ankalaev post-UFC 320

Dylan Bowker - September 11, 2025

Alex Pereira does not necessarily see a rubber match down the line with Magomed Ankalaev once the dust settles on their rematch at UFC 320. ‘Poatan’ first fought Ankalaev earlier this year at UFC 313, with the Russian combatant wresting the light heavyweight title from Pereira by way of a unanimous decision in March. It’s a classic scenario in combat sports to have a tiebreaking trilogy bout, if Pereira were to regain the gold in their October 4th sequel clash, but in an interview with MMA Junkie, where a translator from Stake who translated the imparted message from Portuguese to English, Pereira said [via MMA Junkie],

Alex Pereira Magomed Ankalaev UFC 313 weigh-ins
Modestas Bukauskas

Pereira vs. Ankalaev 2 at UFC 320 predicted by UFC Paris fighter

Dylan Bowker - September 4, 2025

The outcome in the rematch between Alex Pereira and Magomed Ankalaev will mirror their first fight, according to a surging UFC contender. The mixed martial artist who gave that assessment is Modestas Bukauskas, who takes on Paul Craig this weekend at UFC Paris. The hungry light heavyweight contender is looking to notch a statement win over the promotional stalwart to get himself in closer proximity for his own 205-pound title shot someday. The first fight between Ankalaev and Pereira took place in March, with the former unseating the latter from his light heavyweight throne at UFC 313.

Alex Pereira reacts after his loss to Magomed Ankalaev at UFC 313
UFC

Alex Pereira admits 'frustration' with UFC brass led to recent social media firestorm

Curtis Calhoun - September 3, 2025

Former UFC light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira admits his critical tweets about the UFC earlier this year were legit. Alex Pereira raised eyebrows earlier this year when he went on an unexpected social media rant expressing frustration about his standing in the UFC light heavyweight title picture. While Pereira ultimately got his desired rematch against Magomed Ankalaev, one of his former rivals was briefly rumored to be an option to be Ankalaev’s first title defense.

Alex Pereira
UFC

Zhang Mingyang questions Alex Pereira's motivation ahead of Magomed Ankalaev rematch

Harry Kettle - August 22, 2025

UFC light heavyweight Zhang Mingyang has questioned Alex Pereira’s motivation ahead of his upcoming rematch at UFC 320. At UFC 320, Alex Pereira will attempt to reclaim the UFC light heavyweight championship. He’ll do so when he challenges Magomed Ankalaev for the belt, the same man who took the title from him. Some believe the rematch will go differently to the first fight, whereas others imagine a similar outcome playing out.

Alex Pereira, UFC 313
UFC

Alex Pereira and Magomed Ankalaev 2 will "play [out] the same" per Ex-UFC vet

Dylan Bowker - August 14, 2025

Alex Pereira has made demonstrable improvements in his anti-wrestling, but a former UFC veteran still doesn’t think it’s enough to make a Magomed Ankalaev rematch play out any differently than their first fight. Pereira vs. Ankalaev 2 is set for UFC 320 on October 4th, with the former looking to claim light heavyweight gold once again from the man who took it from him. Krzysztof Jotko touched upon this UFC 205 pound championship rematch during an interview on Bowks Talking Bouts ahead of his eventual Oktagon 74 win that saw him advance in the Tipsport Gamechanger tournament. Going through Jotko’s X page circa February 2022, Jotko mentioned then that months prior, he had agreed to fight Pereira, only for ‘Poatan’ to end up fighting Bruno Silva towards the end of 2021.

Dricus du Plessis Alex Pereira
Dricus du Plessis

Dricus du Plessis Teammate “Wasn’t Shocked” He Finished Former Alex Pereira Foe Faster Than ‘Poatan'

Dylan Bowker - August 13, 2025

Alex Pereira has a run of emphatic finishes that looms large over many in the sport. But a teammate of Dricus du Plessis was able to finish a prior ‘Poatan’ opponent even more succinctly than the Brazilian KO artist. Mark Hulme is that fighter in question, and this fact was covered during an appearance on Bowks Talking Bouts ahead of his recent contest at Oktagon 74. Dricus du Plessis‘ Team CIT compatriot debuted with Oktagon MMA by battling Andreas Michailidis at Oktagon 67 and submitted him in the opening frame of their fight.

Alex Pereira UFC press conference
Chael Sonnen

Nobody wants to see Alex Pereira fight Magomed Ankalaev again, says outspoken UFC analyst

Fernando Quiles Jr. - August 7, 2025

If you ask one UFC analyst, Alex Pereira shouldn’t have been booked in a rematch with Magomed Ankalaev. Pereira lost the UFC Light Heavyweight Championship to Ankalaev back in March. Ankalaev forced Pereira to fight while moving backward, which was unfamiliar territory for “Poatan.” The constant pressure from Ankalaev paid dividends, as he was able to secure the unanimous decision victory to obtain UFC gold for the first time in his pro MMA career.

Alex Pereira
Ali Abdelaziz

Alex Pereira's UFC title run was 'engineered,' says well-known MMA manager

Fernando Quiles Jr. - July 13, 2025

A top MMA manager doesn’t believe Alex Pereira would’ve been a UFC champion if Magomed Ankalaev got dibs on a shot first. Pereira reigned as the 205-pound champion with three successful title defenses. After defeating Jiri Prochazka to capture the gold, “Poatan” finished Jamahal Hill, Prochazka a second time, and Khalil Rountree. Pereira’s reign came to an end courtesy of Ankalaev, who had “Poatan” backing up for most of their five-round affair.

Magomed Ankalaev
Magomed Ankalaev

Magomed Ankalaev's manager confirms plans for Alex Pereira rematch

Harry Kettle - July 11, 2025

Magomed Ankalaev’s manager Ali Abdelaziz has confirmed plans for a rematch against Alex Pereira later this year. As we know, Magomed Ankalaev is the UFC light heavyweight champion, and he earned that title by defeating Alex Pereira for the strap. We also know that there have been rumors about a reamtch at some point later this year, and it certainly feels like that’s the direction we’re heading in.