After being hammered on all sides about fighter pay and the quality of their matchmaking of late, finally a bright spot for the UFC on that front: Alex Pereira is very, very happy with his latest contract.
Pereira signed a new eight-fight deal with the UFC in advance of his move to heavyweight at the Freedom 250 card. He faces Ciryl Gane for an interim title at the event, set to be held on the White House grounds on June 14, 2026.
It’s safe to say “Poatan” is in a good spot in his career, and in his relationship with the company.
Speaking in studio on The Ariel Helwani Show on Monday, the former UFC middleweight and light heavyweight champion revealed his new deal is so good, he left it up to the promotion as far as what they wanted him to do.
“I just expressed myself that I wanted to do a heavyweight fight, and they took really good care of me,” stated Pereira. “The way that they gave me this last contract was so good, that I left it open to do whatever they want. It doesn’t matter.”
Asked if it’s a better deal than he’d ever imagined in his career, monetarily, Pereira said “absolutely.”
As far as the move up in weight, Pereira exclaimed that “I made all the history, middleweight, light heavyweight. I’ve been listening to my body, seeing how my body’s been reacting.”
“I know some guys will say, ‘he don’t have heavyweight size,’ but I feel like I hit like a heavyweight.” Pereira also confirmed he weighs about 245lbs at the moment. “I feel like this is a great opportunity for me to keep making my history.”
He also noted that let going of his belt was a “pretty easy choice,” thanking matchmaker Mick Maynard and UFC execs Hunter Campbell and Dana White for the deal. Pereira also admitted that the deal will “probably” be his final contract with the UFC.
At 38, that’s not entirely surprising.