What's next for Alex Pereira?

By Ryan Mullen

What has 2024 got in store for the Brazilian UFC star? (Image: Getty Images)

Following a stunning knockout on former Champion Jiri Prochazka in November’s main event, Alex “Poatan” Pereira has been crowned the King of the Light-Heavy Division. Pereira has been a fan-favourite since his stunning Madison Square Garden debut in 2021 where Pereira knocked his opponent out with a brutal flying knee. Pereira has received widespread recognition from all corners of the world of the UFC because of his show-stopping knockout power and his incredibly crafty striking.

What put Pereira on the map was his historical rivalry with former Middleweight Champion- and all-round UFC Superstar -Israel “The Last Stylebender” Adesanya. In the Glory Kickboxing League, where both Pereira and Adesanya got their start on the pro scene. They clashed twice and Pereira won both bouts. When he signed on to the UFC, Adesanya ridiculed Pereira, describing him as “some guy in a pub”, while Adesanya was going to become Champion. Their feud led to two more bouts at Middleweight, Pereira won the first by knockout, then Adesanya returned and knocked him out the second time. Pereira then set his eyes on the Light-Heavyweight belt, he moved up to 205, challenging and outpointing rank four- and former champion -Jan Blachowicz, who also beat Adesanya. Finally, in his most recent bout, he was crowned the Light-Heavyweight Champion after beating rank one Jiri Prochazka, as the former champion vacated due to injury.

Israel Adesanya (left) and Alex Pereira (right) before they faced off in 2022 (Image: Getty Images)

Pereira is one of the sport’s most exciting fighters. He has tons of fan appeal, and everyone wants to know where he’s going next. He is an incredibly active fighter, so he may headline another event in the first half of 2024.

The fight that every fan wants to see from the new champion is one last fight with his rival Israel Adesanya to settle the score. The event would undoubtedly go down as one of the most watched events in the history of MMA, with the rivalry to sell the fight. Their clashes both sold millions of pay-per-views (PPVs) for the UFC, and both are two of the best strikers in the sport at this time. The chances of seeing this superfight soon, though, are slim. Adesanya is going into a short retirement from fighting following his recent loss to Middleweight champion Sean Strickland. The fight would certainly be a spectacle if it happened, but at this time, it’s the least likely option for Pereira’s next bout.

Another name being passed around is former champion Jamahal Hill. He relinquished the title due to injuring his Achilles tendon, leading to Pereira and Prochazka fighting for the title. However, the chances of this fight happening are also very slim, as Hill has found himself on the wrong side of the law. He has also come under lots of scrutiny during his title reign due to how he won the title. Hill fought a 43-year-old Glover Texeira to gain the title in an incredibly non-competitive bout, after which Glover retired.

After his recent bout, however, Khalil Rountree Jr. has been on people’s minds as a future opponent for Pereira. Rountree knocked out his opponent, Anthony Smith, in the last round of their recent match. Rountree moved up 3 ranks and into the Light-Heavyweight top 10. His high punching power could prove a match for Pereira’s, but he has not displayed the level of craftiness in striking that Pereira has. This match would likely end similarly to Pereira’s title fight: A second-round knockout by left hook.

The most likely match to make could be one of two. Light-heavyweight ranks four and seven Magomed Ankalaev and Johnny Walker. Ankalaev has held his position in the top five for a year now. Ample time to prove that he’d be a worthy challenger for the Light Heavyweight title. However, in October, he had a controversial no-contest with Johnny Walker, which brought into question whether he would be the right opponent for a title shot. To remedy this, Ankalaev and Walker will fight once again in the first event of next year, the winner likely set to challenge for the belt.

Magomed Ankalaev (left) and Johnny Walker (right) before their October bout (Image: Getty Images)

Last night (21 December), Pereira made a cryptic post on his Instagram story: A blank background with a strange mathematical equation (‘30+300=3’). There’s been much debate about what exactly this means, but the most exciting answer to this confusing equation? Pereira will put on 30 pounds of weight to fight for the Heavyweight title- his third UFC title shot -at UFC 300.

So, on top of a strong list of challengers, Pereira’s next fight may also be him as the challenger himself, and shooting for Heavyweight gold against the UK’s very own Tom Aspinall.