Alex Pereira Has a Clear Answer on a Potential Heavyweight Move
Alex Pereira Has a Clear Answer on a Potential Heavyweight Move originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
Once a dominant force in the light heavyweight division, Alex Pereira's momentum was halted at UFC 313. Riding a five-fight win streak and looking like a man possessed, the former champion collided with Magomed Ankalaev in a brutal chess match that ended with Pereira losing his belt. Now, the question hanging in the air: is 'Poatan' planning to take his power up to Heavyweight?
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After the loss, Pereira didn't rush back into the spotlight. Instead, he embraced a much-needed reset—time off that may have been as tactical as it was personal. In a recent interview with MMAFightingSBN, the Brazilian powerhouse pulled back the curtain on where his head's at—and what his body's doing.
Alex PereiraGetty Images
One detail stood out: he recently weighed in at a massive 240 pounds—and when asked directly whether that meant a move to heavyweight was in the cards, the speculation reached a boiling point.
That number alone sparked heavy whispers about a move up, especially with Jon Jones still stuck on the sidelines. When asked about the current state of the division and the possibility of Jones being stripped, Pereira didn't hold back:
'Let those guys kill each other in that [heavyweight] class. Right now I'm just focusing on light heavyweight.'
'My focus right now is fighting Ankalaev, get my belt back, and then we see what happens next.'
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When asked about a return date, Pereira made it clear he's ready whenever:
'September... October makes no difference—I want to fight.'
Despite all the heavyweight chatter, Pereira sounds like a man on a mission—one with unfinished business at 205. A rematch with Ankalaev isn't just about redemption; it's about restoring what he believes is rightfully his.
And here's where things get interesting: the UFC doesn't have a pay-per-view scheduled for September. But with two PPVs planned for October, Pereira may be circling a date—and his shot at gold—sooner than we think.
Related: Jon Jones Responds to Dana White's Deadline with Blunt Update
Related: UFC Signs Former PFL Heavyweight Champion in Strategic Roster Move
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 21, 2025, where it first appeared.
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