UFC star Alex Pereira reclaimed his light-heavyweight crown in dominant fashion, shocking the world with a first-round knockout of Magomed Ankalaev in their highly anticipated title rematch at UFC 320 on Oct. 4.
The Brazilian fan-favorite beat the washed allegations, slamming the door shut on another rivalry — while seemingly opening a new chapter for the final stage of his career. After capturing UFC gold at 185 and 205 pounds, Poatan is pressing for a move up to heavyweight. Will he actually make the jump? And if so, who will he face?
Having avenged his loss to Ankalaev, Pereira (13-3) has nothing left to prove at light heavyweight. He’s already beaten five of the division’s top six contenders — and while No. 1 contender Jiri Prochazka looked great against Khalil Rountree, a trilogy fight with Pereira lacks intrigue given the lopsided nature of their first two encounters. It makes the most sense for the division for Pereira to relinquish the belt, potentially setting up a bout between Prochazka and Carlos Ulberg for the vacant title.
Who Could Pereira Fight at Heavyweight?
If Poatan decides to bulk up to heavyweight, there are two realistic options for his next opponent. The first would be a showdown with the winner of the upcoming bout between Ciryl Gane and reigning heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall.
Aspinall was crowned champion after Jon Jones retired in June, and will make his first title defense on Oct. 25 at UFC 321 in Abu Dhabi. The British 32-year-old has won 11 of his last 12 fights — all by finish — and boasts the shortest average fight time in UFC history. Meanwhile, Gane is a former champion and heavyweight mainstay since his UFC debut in 2019, owning a professional record of 13-2, with losses only to Jones and Francis Ngannou.
Challenging for the heavyweight belt would provide Pereira an opportunity to carve out a truly unprecedented legacy. Already just the ninth two-division champion in UFC history, the knockout artist could become the first ever to capture UFC gold across three separate weight classes — a feat that would cement his case among the greatest to ever step in the Octagon. Pereira currently holds the sixth-best odds to be heavyweight champ by the end of next year, sitting at +1100 on DraftKings Sportsbook.
But even with everything at stake, Pereira, 38, seems to be gravitating toward a different dream bout — a mega-fight with Jones.
After a short-lived retirement, Jones re-entered the anti-doping testing pool in July with hopes of competing at the promotion’s highly anticipated event at the White House next summer. Dana White doesn’t seem too keen on trusting Jones to headline the card, but an event of that caliber needs an electrifying main-event — and what better matchup than a heavyweight clash between the UFC GOAT and the promotion’s brightest star?
Following his win over Ankalaev, Pereira has repeatedly emphasized his desire to fight Jones at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave — citing their comparable age, mutual respect, and the larger-than-life spectacle that would surround the star-studded matchup.
Ultimately, though, Pereira’s future lies in the hands of UFC brass. Time will tell whether he’s fighting for history — or legacy.
