Alex Pereira Steps In for Dana White 10 Days Before UFC 315, as All Fans Are Left Divided

Boring. That’s what many fans feel about the upcoming UFC 315, and this notion got a big push after Colby Covington touted the main event—Belal Muhammad versus Jack Maddalena—as “two losers in the sport”. While the card also has big names like Valentina Shevchenko, Jose Aldo, and Gilbert Burns, perhaps the overall star power isn’t what fight fans expected. And so, Alex Pereira came to the promotion and Dana White’s rescue… once again!

Is this really surprising, considering how he was carrying the UFC? Remember UFC 303? ‘Poatan’ took the fight against Jiri Prochazka on short notice. “I like taking these opportunities,” he stated and hinted that he was about to turn 37, so he didn’t have a lot of time on his hands. He just wanted to stay active and fight, and this could be the reason he has been consistently fighting three times a year since 2022. But this time, he is helping out the UFC in a different manner. 

He may not be the light heavyweight champion now, but his star power hasn’t faded. No wonder, after previously saving two UFC cards, he has stepped up once again, and at UFC 315, he will be seen in the VIP lounge. ‘On Location’ took to Instagram to share this news and wrote, “Exchanging left hooks for high fives 🔥 CHAMA.” Does that mean fans can meet the Brazilian? Yes! As per On Location’s website, fans can choose from the following four packages:

• RISING STAR Ticket + Hospitality: This will include the UFC 315 tickets, upper-level seating, a VIP entrance, a reserved seat at the ceremonial weigh-ins, and the opportunity to meet Pereira and other athletes. This starts at $585.
• CHALLENGER TICKET + Hospitality: This package includes the UFC 315 tickets, lower-level seating, and a reserved seat at the ceremonial weigh-ins, opportunity to meet Pereira and other UFC stars as well as post weigh-in reception with other athletes’ appearances. This package starts at $1,575.
• CHAMPION TICKET + Hospitality: This package includes the UFC 315 tickets, floor seating, a chance to meet Alex Pereira and other stars, post weigh-in reception, and also post-fight octagon experience. This starts at $4,500.
• ELITE TICKET + Hospitality: This is a customized package which includes floor-level tickets, side stage access during the weigh-ins, an autographed and framed fight card, custom flight kits, and a round-trip private transportation.

However, these kinds of packages are not new. Similar packages have been available at previous UFC events, too. But do those packages guarantee meetings with other UFC athletes? As per their website, “It’s a surprise! Specific athletes are not guaranteed and can vary depending on the day/event.” What about autographs or photographs?

“Autographs and photos are not guaranteed during athlete appearances, as they are up to the UFC and the athletes themselves,” the site states. However, what the promotion promises is that the experience of being in the arena will make up for the lack of autographs.

Fans might be excited to see Pereira, as there are rematch speculations against Ankalaev. So what did they have to say about Pereira attending UFC 315 and interacting with fans?

Top Comment by Rikichet

No, but it does remove the myth around his rapid rise. Hes more relatable now to the fans

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Fans banter about Alex Pereira’s VIP Lounge appearance!

One follower commented on the classic trademark phrase that ‘Poatan’ uses. They said, “Bro, just gonna say Chama the whole time.” For the unversed, ‘Chama’ is ‘Flame’ or ‘Inspiration’ in Portuguese, as per the Cambridge Dictionary. However, the Brazilian uses the word as slang to indicate like-mindedness or an excited acknowledgment, like ‘let’s go’ before a big event—similar to ‘Shaka’ in Hawaiian culture. The word ‘Chama’ has become synonymous with the former champ, who just needs to utter this word to make the crowd roar. 

Another follower wrote, “All these media obligations cannot be good for his training,” while another mentioned, “You are forgetting to fight and posing a lot for the media.” It’s common knowledge that Pereira was berated for going to Australia to help Sean Strickland just before his fight at UFC 313. Daniel Cormier was one of the veterans in the UFC who criticized this move.

Pereira clapped back in February and stated: “I can say to Daniel Cormier and a bunch of the other specialists saying that I shouldn’t have gone out there that I’ve been in this situation before. It’s actually been worse before when I was in Australia and had signed up to fight but didn’t even know I was going to do that.

“This time it was all very planned out, I knew what I was going to do. I took basically my whole team down there, I had eight people in Australia with me and we knew exactly what to do so we had it all very well planned out.”

However, when fans saw Pereira’s name getting associated with UFC 315, they were shocked, thinking it would be another short-notice fight. One fan commented, “All I saw was UFC, some numbers, and his name, and nearly had a heart attack.”

Another fan commented on the ticket prices, saying, “Can’t wait to see the astronomical price they’re charging for a VIP package Imao.”

It will be interesting to see the Brazilian interact with his fans. What do you think? Tell us your thoughts below.