In the hours following Friday’s official weigh-in, Alex Pereira revealed that he had already packed on a remarkable amount of size. The Brazilian star hit the scale at 204.5 pounds for the light heavyweight title bout, the same as champion Magomed Ankalaev. But when he stepped back on the scale later that night, Pereira weighed 232.4 pounds, showing just how much his body rebounds between weigh-in and fight night.
On Instagram Stories, Pereira posted a short clip wearing only fight shorts and socks, showing his updated number on the digital scale. The drastic increase came less than a day after he had trimmed down to championship weight.
204.5 ➡️ 232.4
Alex Pereira back up nearly 28 lbs since weighing in Friday morning 🤯 pic.twitter.com/poOFWdU0gJ
— Happy Punch (@HappyPunch) October 4, 2025
Possible Edge Against Ankalaev
With such a rapid size rebound, Pereira could enter the Octagon with a clear physical presence. Add a hearty breakfast before the event, and his total could surpass the 30-pound mark by the time the opening bell sounds at T-Mobile Arena.
There’s no exact update on how much Ankalaev has regained since weigh-ins. The Russian champion typically keeps that information quiet, leaving most of his social media activity to his manager, Ali Abdelaziz. The two camps did have a brief exchange earlier in the week at the UFC Performance Institute, hinting at the intensity of this rematch.
This is Pereira’s first fight since losing a unanimous decision to Ankalaev earlier in the year. Their first clash ended with scores of 49–46, 48–47, and 48–47 for the Dagestani striker, who controlled the action with clinch work and clean strikes when they separated.
Pereira has been out for seven months, spending the time rebuilding and adjusting his preparation. Many fans are curious to see whether the added weight will help him deal with Ankalaev’s grinding pressure and powerful striking.
Oddsmakers currently have Pereira listed as an underdog near +200, while Ankalaev sits at around -250 as the betting favorite. The weight gain might give Pereira a physical advantage, but he still faces an uphill climb against the reigning champion’s well-rounded skill set.
