After ruling 2024 with three title defenses and three knockouts against dangerous opponents, Alex Pereira has not yet defined what his future looks like in 2025. Despite having indicated that he could be in action at UFC 312 in February, it’s highly likely that the Brazilian will travel to Australia just to help Sean Strickland in his fight against Dricus du Plessis. Jon Jones expressed his interest in facing the champion, the feeling’s being mutual from Pereira’s end as well.

However, seeing that the fans desire to see the heavyweight champion face the interim titleholder Tom Aspinall, it seems less likely that Dana White would give Alex Pereira vs. Jon Jones a green flag. Therefore, the long-awaited return of the 205 lb champion to the most famous Octagon in the world remains a mystery without further defined details, such as date, opponent, location, and weight class. So, we took the help of AI to guess what 2025 looks like for the UFC light heavyweight champion. What did AI have to say? Let’s find out!

Fight 1: Alex Pereira vs. Magomed Ankalaev

Date: March 2025 
Event: UFC 313 

While the UFC champion had already made it clear that he would try to make life difficult for Magomed Ankalaev in his attempt to get a ‘title shot’, it is worth noting that the Russian is on a run of a lifetime inside the Octagon. Ankalaev, undefeated in 13 fights, is currently number one in the light heavyweight rankings. As a result, he has accused the Brazilian fighter of “running away” from a confrontation against him, a stance that displeases Alex Pereira. Tired of the accusations of ducking, 2025 will see Alex Pereira defending his light heavyweight title against the Russian challenger.

While many might expect this to be yet another easy fight for ‘Poatan,’ this couldn’t be further from the truth. The MMA world is aware of the fact by now that Ankalaev is a powerhouse when it comes to his wrestling and counter-striking abilities, which will pose a significant threat to the Brazilian. As per AI, the future bout kicks off with Magomed Ankalaev utilizing his skills to make relentless takedowns, limiting Alex Pereira’s ability to land any clean strikes. With his ground game not being his strongest suit, ‘Poatan’ is stuck on the defensive for much of the early rounds.

Being the elite fighter and the future Hall of Famer that he is, AI predicts that the Brazilian does manage to land some clean strikes in the third and fourth rounds; however, it’s not enough. The 32-year-old Russian will mix up his striking and grappling, proving to be too great of an opponent in the Octagon to overcome.

As a result, by the time the fight ends, the judges would rate the fight in favor of Magomed Ankalaev in a razor-thin split decision. This ends the legendary title reign of the Brazilian as the light heavyweight champion of the promotion. But while his reign ends, his journey doesn’t, as Alex Pereira would then seek revenge against the Russian champion in a rematch.

Fight 2: Alex Pereira vs. Magomed Ankalaev II

Date: December 2025 
Event: UFC 322 

With vengeance in his mind, ‘Poatan’ returns to the Octagon much more prepared than the last time. The previous time, according to AI, Alex Pereira definitely underestimated the skills of Magomed Ankalaev. However, the second time around, Pereira is more determined to back the throne he once lost. After months of preparation, the former light heavyweight champion is sharper than ever when it comes to his takedown defense, and his grappling skills are now enough to help him escape the ground game.

Ankalaev, the new champion, full of confidence, starts strong. Despite all the preparations done by Pereira, it is the Russian fighter who dictates the pace of the fight in the early rounds. However, it is evident by now that ‘Poatan’ is much better prepared, as he counters a majority of takedowns through devastating strikes. In fact, unlike the last time, it is Pereira who takes full control of the fight by Round 3. His series of body kicks slow Ankalaev down, while the fourth round provides the signature moment of the night.

A solid left hook sends Magomed Ankalaev crashing to the ground, and being the fiercest fighter in the UFC, Pereira follows it up with ground-and-pound until the referee steps in to stop the fight. Vengeance has been achieved, as Alex Pereira is declared the winner via TKO to reclaim the light heavyweight title. Regardless of the outcome of the fight and the very short title reign, Ankalaev remains one of the best light heavyweights in the division.

So, do you agree with the AI prediction, or do you think Alex Pereira has something else written in his destiny? Let us know your thoughts below!