UFC champion Alex Pereira has agreed to a new contract with the promotion that could keep him competing inside the Octagon for the rest of his career.
During an appearance on The Ariel Helwani Show, the Brazilian revealed that he recently signed an eight fight deal with the UFC. The agreement came at the same time he discussed moving up to the heavyweight division.
Pereira said the promotion treated him well during negotiations and that he had no issue giving up his belt in order to chase new challenges.
“It was a pretty easy choice when I expressed I wanted to go Heavyweight,” Pereira said. “Of course, I had to let go of the belt, but they gave me a new contract and I’m really, really happy with my new contract. I want to thank Mick [Maynard], Hunter [Campbell] and Dana White. With this new deal, I don’t care about letting go of the belt. They took really good care of me…The way they gave me this last contract was so good that I left it open for them to do whatever they wanted—it didn’t matter.”
This new agreement is the second eight fight contract Pereira has signed with the organization in a short period of time.
🚨 Alex Pereira reveals he has signed a new 8-fight deal with the UFC 👀
“They took really good care of me. The contract was so good that I let it open for them to do whatever they want.”
(via @arielhelwani) pic.twitter.com/mXNMrpy2lZ
— Championship Rounds (@ChampRDS) March 16, 2026
Next step is a heavyweight title opportunity
Before thinking about future matchups, Pereira has a major fight coming up.
He is scheduled to meet Ciryl Gane for the interim heavyweight championship on June 14 at the special UFC event planned in Washington, D.C. The card has gained attention because of its location near the White House.
Pereira recently reclaimed the light heavyweight title with a knockout victory over Magomed Ankalaev. However, the move to heavyweight means he is expected to leave that belt behind.
If he succeeds against Gane, Pereira could move closer to a rare achievement by becoming a champion in three different UFC divisions.
Pereira still confident about Jon Jones matchup
Even though his focus is on the upcoming fight, Pereira continues to talk about the possibility of facing Jon Jones in the future.
Some fans believe the fight may never happen because of tension between Jones and the UFC. However, Pereira does not share that concern.
“I believe so, as long as I win this fight, right? Because otherwise it doesn’t make too much sense,” Pereira said. “I believe it happens because he’d have to be released by the UFC. I don’t think the UFC is going to release him anytime soon so if he wants to fight, who’s it going to be against? It’s going to be against me.”
Jones has reportedly asked for his release recently, while UFC president Dana White has spoken about the fighter’s health issues. According to White, doctors have warned that Jones’ hips may require surgery.
Those concerns were one reason Jones was not placed on the upcoming June event card.
While the situation around Jones remains uncertain, Pereira has chosen stability by committing to the UFC for the long term.
The Brazilian striker has already built a remarkable career inside the promotion. In a short time he captured titles and became one of the most recognized names on the roster.
With a new contract in place and a heavyweight fight approaching, Pereira now turns his attention to Ciryl Gane. If he wins on June 14, the door could open for even bigger matchups later in his career.
