A shocking message from Alex Pereira’s X account rocked MMA fans on May 7, 2025. The post suggested frustration with the UFC and hinted at quitting the sport.
Pereira, a Brazilian knockout artist, holds a 12-3 MMA record with nine finishes. He became the UFC’s ninth two-division champion, seizing the middleweight belt in 2022 and light heavyweight title in 2023.
The tweet, posted at 13:54 EDT, read:
“I always answered the UFC’s calls, but if they want to play with me, we can do that. I’ve never spoken poorly of the UFC but with what I’ve just heard I’m disheartened. I’ve already had thoughts of not fighting anymore, and after what was just relayed to me this may be the start.” It fueled fears of a rift with the promotion.
I always answered the UFC’s calls, but if they want to play with me, we can do that. I’ve never spoken poorly of the UFC but with what I’ve just heard I’m disheartened. I’ve already had thoughts of not fighting anymore, and after what was just relayed to me this may be the start.
— Alex “Poatan” Pereira (@AlexPereiraUFC) May 7, 2025
Pereira’s journey began with a 2021 UFC debut after ruling kickboxing as a two-division GLORY champion. He stunned Israel Adesanya with a TKO at UFC 281 to claim the 185-pound crown.
Adesanya reclaimed the title in 2023, knocking out Pereira at UFC 287. Pereira then moved to 205 pounds, capturing the light heavyweight belt against Jiri Procházka at UFC 295.
In 2024, Pereira set a UFC record for the fastest three title defenses, stopping Jamahal Hill, Procházka, and Khalil Rountree in 175 days. His wins at UFC 300, UFC 303, and UFC 307 tied him with Ilia Topuria for Fighter of the Year.
His reign ended at UFC 313 on March 8, 2025, in Las Vegas. Magomed Ankalaev earned the light heavyweight title via unanimous decision, with scores of 49-46, 48-47, 48-47.
Pereira thwarted all 12 of Ankalaev’s takedown attempts but landed only 39 significant strikes. A hand injury hampered his left hook, and Ankalaev’s clinch work secured the victory.
Aljamain Sterling attributed Pereira’s setback to his brutal schedule. Three title defenses in seven months left him drained against Ankalaev’s calculated strategy.
Pereira’s Loyalty Shines Through Online Drama
Pereira addressed the tweet in an Instagram video hours later on May 7, 2025. He revealed his X account was hacked and denied any issues with the UFC.
In the video, Pereira said, “I’ve received a ton of messages, getting messages from everyone, who saw a post from my Twitter. I didn’t even know about it, I was hacked. It’s been a while since I’ve posted anything, you guys see. But I was hacked and I’ll resolve it. I don’t even know what’s going on. I have a great relationship with UFC. People like to do bad things. That’s that. Chama.”
His words reassured fans but sparked debate.
Fans on X speculated the tweet reflected Pereira’s reluctance to rematch Ankalaev quickly. Some pointed to UFC 319, set for August 2025 in Chicago, as a possible source of tension.
Others suggested Pereira sought a trilogy fight with Adesanya at middleweight. X user @MMAManiac argued Pereira’s heart remains at 185 pounds.
Dana White dismissed the hacking claim, calling the tweet a brief misunderstanding. He insisted Pereira is happy and planning his next bout.
Ankalaev fired back on X, accusing Pereira of dodging a rematch. He claimed Pereira feared his power during their 25-minute clash at UFC 313.
Michael Bisping noted Pereira lacked his usual explosiveness at UFC 313, possibly due to fatigue. Khalil Rountree echoed this, saying Pereira seemed off in the cage.
Hacking incidents are uncommon in MMA, unlike sports like soccer, where stars like Lionel Messi have faced social media breaches. Pereira’s team is working to secure his accounts.
Pereira told reporters in March 2025 he aims to sharpen his clinch defense for a rematch. He remains the No. 2 pound-for-pound fighter, trailing only Jon Jones.
White supports an immediate rematch, potentially headlining a 2025 card. Pereira’s loyalty and “Chama” spirit keep fans chanting for his return.
