While Conor McGregor was away, Alex Pereira carried the UFC on his shoulders, putting it firmly in the global spotlight—especially last year, when he defended his title consecutively and kept fans worldwide hooked. That reign, however, came crashing down at UFC 313. Against Magomed Ankalaev, ‘Poatan’ looked off his game. Ankalaev outclassed him, dethroning the champion and ending his 1.4-year run as the light heavyweight champion. The loss not only cost Pereira the belt but also pushed him into a mental trench, as the former champion faded from the spotlight.

Now, months later, Pereira is ready to reclaim his throne in a high-stakes rematch at UFC 320. Ahead of the fight, the rarely trash-talking Brazilian spoke out against the reigning champion, accusing him of hiding from him. “They hid the guy in a little room, man,” Alex Pereira said. “The guy thinks I’m going to run into him and start fighting. Do I look stupid, bro? This guy talks nonsense. Honestly, I would’ve handled it way better… what kind of champion is that man?”

Michael Bisping breaks down Alex Pereira’s trash talk at Magomed Ankalaev

With the rematch just hours away, the pressure on Alex Pereira is almost palpable. Former UFC champion Michael Bisping broke down exactly how Ankalaev managed to crack the Brazilian’s aura: “He can’t allow himself to get pushed back against Ankalaev. If he does that, he’s going to lose another fight. Now, I believe, to a certain degree, for Magomed Ankalaev, the aura of Alex Pereira has gone. He now knows this man’s human. ‘I can beat him. I’ve taken his best shots. I can take him down. I beat him once before, and I’ll beat him again.'”

‘Poatan’s journey through the UFC light heavyweight division has been nothing short of meteoric. Alex Pereira stamped his authority by shutting down Jiří Procházka for the vacant belt in late 2023, and from there, his reign burned bright. In a whirlwind stretch, he defended his crown consecutively at UFC 300, UFC 303, and UFC 307—taking out Jamahal Hill, rematching Procházka on short notice, and finally knocking out Khalil Rountree Jr. to secure his third title defense. Then came the sudden fall.

Magomed Ankalaev ended Alex Pereira’s golden streak, stripping him of his light heavyweight crown and leaving the former champion reeling. Bisping highlighted the invisible weight now on Pereira’s shoulders: “And that’s why we’ve seen Alex Pereira coming out and talking and saying that he was hiding from him and all the rest of it—because there’s a lot of pressure on the shoulders of Alex Pereira. Not pressure in terms of his lifestyle, not in terms of money, not in terms of legacy, because that’s all set. He’s had a great career, but he wants to beat this guy. I think there’s a little bit where Ankalaev lives in his head.”

For the 38-year-old Alex Pereira, UFC 320 looms as a do-or-die, a fight that could define the final chapter of his run in the promotion. Yet for Bisping, and like many other analysts, the rematch appears destined to follow the same script. “Who wins this fight? I think it’s going to be the same way. I think Magomed Ankalaev,” said Michael Bisping, siding with the reigning champion.

Pereira discusses potential heavyweight move ahead of UFC 320 showdown

Alex Pereira rose through the ranks of combat sports in a true rags-to-riches fashion. A boy from the favelas of Brazil, battling poverty and addiction, he conquered the kickboxing world before making his mark in the UFC. At middleweight, he claimed the undisputed 185 lbs title. But he didn’t stop there—he moved up to 205 lbs and captured gold again, proving he wasn’t satisfied with just one crown. With that momentum, ‘Poatan’ set his sights on a bold goal: becoming the UFC’s first three-division champion.

Initially, he aimed to challenge the then-heavyweight king Jon Jones instead of Magomed Ankalaev. UFC matchmakers, however, threw down conditions: Alex Pereira had to beat Ankalaev first, while Jones needed to defeat Tom Aspinall. Pereira fell short at UFC 313, and Jones later retired, vacating the heavyweight belt. Now, the rematch against Ankalaev at UFC 320 isn’t just about a title—it’s a chance for redemption. Pereira has also spoken about his long-standing plan to move to heavyweight.

With the grind of his weight cut for UFC 320, he acknowledged that 205 pounds may not be sustainable much longer, hinting that the next chapter of his career could be in uncharted territory. “I really don’t know. We’ll have to see,” Alex Pereira said when asked about moving up to heavyweight. “Obviously, my body gets heavier. I don’t know how long I can cut to 205. We’re just going to have to see and take it fight by fight.”

So, what’s next for Alex Pereira? Could a loss to Magomed Ankalaev signal the end of his UFC journey, or should he set his sights on the heavyweight division instead? Drop your thoughts and predictions below.