A seismic shift in combat sports looms as UFC light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira hints at a tantalizing crossover bout against boxing’s heavyweight titan, Oleksandr Usyk. The Brazilian star dropped the bombshell during UFC 313 media day, just days before his title defense against Magomed Ankalaev, spotlighting a potential September showdown in Saudi Arabia. This revelation aligns with a bold new venture announced Wednesday, where UFC CEO Dana White and Saudi combat sports leader Turki Alalshikh have teamed up to create a boxing league under TKO Group Holdings.
Pereira, a dominant force in MMA with a storied kickboxing past, expressed unbridled enthusiasm for the prospect.
“I jumped for joy when I saw the announcement,” he said in Portuguese, his excitement palpable. “Maybe September. Saudi Arabia. I was the first to show interest, and then Usyk showed interest. And now we have to see the interest of the organizations. I’ll be ready.”
The deal, unveiled Wednesday, could finally pave the way for UFC fighters to step into the squared circle, a rarity since Conor McGregor’s 2017 boxing spectacle against Floyd Mayweather.
A Historic Collision of Champions
The matchup’s allure is undeniable. Usyk, the reigning heavyweight king with an unblemished 23-0 record, brings technical mastery and two victories over Tyson Fury in 2024. Pereira, meanwhile, boasts devastating knockout power and a 9-1 UFC record, including six wins over former champions. Yet, he remains grounded about its scale compared to McGregor-Mayweather.
“It’s hard to answer,” Pereira admitted. “We know of the popularity of those two, and I’m coming. I’m on my path, I’m coming, but I still think I’m one step behind them in terms of media, so I don’t know how it would be.”
Alex Pereira is asked about a potential fight with Oleksandr Usyk. pic.twitter.com/IIlSQQs4aY
— Jed I. Goodman © (@jedigoodman) March 6, 2025
For now, Pereira’s focus is razor-sharp on Saturday’s clash with Ankalaev in Las Vegas, where a victory could cement his claim as the UFC’s pound-for-pound elite. But his ambitions stretch far beyond the Octagon.
“I want to defend my belt, that’s my focus, but we definitely have options,” he said. “A fight with Dricus [Du Plessis at 205 pounds] or Jon Jones at heavyweight, or boxing Usyk. These are things that are in my mind, and I think these three options are possible. It doesn’t depend on me, I don’t have that control. Whatever the UFC says I have to do, I’ll do.”
Pereira’s rise has been meteoric, transitioning from a two-division Glory Kickboxing champion to a UFC double-division titleholder in under four years. His charisma and relentless activity, headlining three title defenses in 2024 alone, have fueled his case as the promotion’s current torchbearer.
“I think so,” he responded when asked if he’s the UFC’s face. “I’m a very active fighter, last year was a very successful year, so I think my name is being talked about, I’m on the media with good results, so I believe [I am the face of UFC].”
The Usyk fight, if realized, would mark a historic collision of disciplines, blending Pereira’s raw power with Usyk’s surgical precision. With Saudi Arabia’s deep pockets and Alalshikh’s vision amplifying the stakes, this could be the next frontier in combat sports, an electrifying test of two champions at their peak.
First, Pereira must conquer Ankalaev. Then, the world might witness a spectacle that redefines the boundaries of MMA and boxing.
