Former UFC light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira is planning a return to the Octagon in October 2025 following a short break to recover and reset. Pereira last fought at UFC 313, where he lost his title in a closely contested bout against Magomed Ankalaev on March 8, 2025.
Despite the defeat, Pereira remains confident in his abilities and fan support, expressing optimism about his comeback.
“I kind of spoiled the fans a little bit giving them fights back-to-back, which was always good for me, but now I’m just going to take a normal break letting my body rest before I can gear up again,” Pereira told The Schmo.
Taking Time to Heal and Regroup
Pereira had an intense run in 2024, defending his light heavyweight title twice. He delivered a first-round knockout of Jamahal Hill at UFC 300 in April and followed up with a TKO win over Jiří Procházka at UFC 303 in June. His bout with Ankalaev at UFC 313 was a grueling five-round affair, and although he came up short, many fans and pundits felt the decision could have gone either way.
“Right now, I took some time to recover my body, to heal. I’m going to Brazil right now, keep healing a little bit, spend some time with my family. We are in talks with the UFC. We’re gearing up. Let’s see something around October,” Pereira said. “I don’t know where the fight is going to be but for sure it’s going to be a big show.”
While no opponent or venue has been confirmed, speculation points to a high-profile return, possibly even a rematch with Ankalaev or another top contender in the light heavyweight division.
Pereira’s Rapid Rise Through the Ranks
Pereira made his UFC debut in November 2021, scoring a knockout over Andreas Michailidis. Just one year later, he captured the middleweight title by defeating Israel Adesanya at UFC 281 in November 2022. Though Adesanya avenged the loss in April 2023, Pereira quickly rebounded by moving up to light heavyweight and winning the vacant title against Jan Blachowicz at UFC 291 in July 2023.
Known for his devastating striking, a legacy carried over from his time as a two-division Glory kickboxing champion, Pereira built an exciting legacy with stoppage wins and a fearless fighting schedule. The UFC 313 loss was his first setback at light heavyweight.
“I’m definitely hungry. It was a fight that many thought that I won. I see myself as still the champ because the way people treat me and look at me,” he said.
Despite the loss, Pereira doesn’t believe he was at his best that night. He credited Ankalaev’s performance but hinted that the outcome was shaped more by the circumstances than the opponent’s skill alone.
“I’ve definitely fought tougher opponents. The situation itself on that day, the circumstances, made him a hard opponent. But I’ve definitely fought people way harder than him,” he explained.
Looking ahead, Pereira remains focused and motivated.
“I see that on my mind. I see that moment in my mind. I’ve been prepared for that,” he said. “I’ve corrected some mistakes, some adjustments that I had to do for the previous fight. I don’t know if I’m going to win. I don’t know if I’m going to lose. I want to win, and I’m going to work for it.”
With plans to return this October, Pereira’s comeback promises a high-stakes event. Whether it’s a rematch or a new test, the former champion’s confidence and connection with fans continue to drive his pursuit of gold.
