Alex Pereira Hints Fans About Post-UFC Career Plans: “This Would Be New Challenge”

Former UFC light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira talks about his potential combat sports move after leaving the UFC.

Alex Pereira Hints Fans About Post-UFC Career Plans: “This Would Be New Challenge”

Alex Pereira shares his plans to leave UFC for Karate Combat (via Imago)

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Alex Pereira is currently regarded as one of the biggest and most popular combat sports superstars in the entire world. The Brazilian fighter has defeated several top UFC champions and impressively secured world titles in two different weight divisions. At thirty-eight years old, Pereira has only a few fights remaining and has started thinking about life after UFC.

Recently, Pereira attended Karate Combat 56 to cheer for his sister Aline Pereira during her exciting flyweight championship bout. Just like her brother, Aline showcased elite striking skills and convincingly became the first-ever Karate Combat flyweight world champion. After the event, Pereira discussed in a post-fight interview about his potential plans to compete inside Karate Combat.

I have experience in the ring, in the cage. So, this would be a new challenge for me. 

Alex Pereira via House of Fight

Before joining the UFC, ‘Poatan’ was competing at Glory Kickboxing, where he established himself as a dominant striking force. Pereira won multiple Glory Kickboxing championships, defeating many elite fighters while showcasing his devastating knockout power and incredible technical striking.

His dominance in Glory made him one of the most feared fighters, eventually leading to a successful transition into UFC. Pereira’s extensive kickboxing background provided a major advantage inside the octagon, contributing to his fast rise in mixed martial arts.

A key motivation for Pereira’s UFC transition was settling his intense rivalry against former kickboxing foe Israel Adesanya. With his brutal power and kickboxing history, it won’t be surprising for him to find success in Karate Combat.

Additionally, Pereira was recently involved in a controversy surrounding his UFC contract, criticizing the organization’s top management publicly. Later on, Pereira clarified that his official X account was hacked and denied personally making those critical public statements. However, many fans and several experts remained unconvinced by his explanation.

Alex Pereira’s much-anticipated light heavyweight title rematch 

At UFC 313, Alex Pereira faced Magomed Ankalaev in a highly anticipated fight and unfortunately lost his prestigious light heavyweight belt. Ankalaev’s wrestling-heavy approach neutralized Pereira’s striking, leading to a unanimous decision victory and dethroned the Brazilian superstar.

Since that upset, fans have eagerly demanded a rematch, hoping Pereira returns stronger and reclaims his light heavyweight championship. After all, Poatan has improved his takedown defense and minor adjustment could see the fight shift the other way.

Alex Pereira vs. Magomed Ankalaev at UFC 313
Alex Pereira vs. Magomed Ankalaev at UFC 313 (via X)

Recently, Ankalaev publicly announced his readiness for the rematch, confirming he already signed the fight contract without hesitation. Ankalaev went further, accusing Pereira of avoiding the rematch by staying silent and refusing to address the fight discussions. During a recent Pound 4 Pound podcast interview, Ankalaev’s manager, Ali Abdelaziz, shared detailed insights surrounding this matchup.

I think Alex is a good fighter. I think he’s a real fighter. He’s a lion  But in a way, Ankalaev should have been champion two or three years ago. Alex would have never been the champion. I’m going to tell you something — if they fight again, and they will fight again, probably in October — it’s going to be worse for Alex.

Ali Abdelaziz via Pound 4 Pound

Ankalaev stated he plans to end the rematch quickly, targeting an early knockout victory over Pereira. Before UFC 313, Pereira was frequently traveling worldwide, visiting countries like Japan and South Korea during his fight camp preparations. Daniel Cormier previously commented that Pereira’s extensive travels might have negatively impacted his performance during the fight against Ankalaev.

Heading into the rematch, the Brazilian superstar may enter as the underdog, but remains fully capable of securing an impressive victory. His incredible knockout power always presents a constant threat, giving him the ability to finish the fight at any moment.

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