205lbs god-king Alex Pereira has sparked significant buzz in the MMA community yet again. But this time it’s not because of his recent domination inside the cage. Instead, attention has shifted to his future plans. A potential move up to the heavyweight division—something he first hinted at back in October after defending his title for the third time against Khalil Rountree Jr.

In the post-fight interview, ‘Poatan’ expressed his interest in the division, stating, “I can move up to heavyweight,” with a desire to challenge either interim champion Tom Aspinall or reigning champion Jon Jones. This dream of seeing the Brazilian compete in the heaviest division of the promotion gained further traction when Brazilian MMA content creator Laerte Viana recently suggested that Pereira could face #3 ranked Russian heavyweight Alexander Volkov at UFC 313 on March 8, as reported by Forbes.

While this fight may not be for the title, it could set the stage for ‘Poatan’ to earn a shot at heavyweight gold. It was speculated that the winner of Alex Pereira vs. Volkov could be in line to face the victor of the highly anticipated Jones vs. Aspinall. However, is this rumor accurate? Seasoned MMA journalist Kevin Iole, who is close to Dana White, recently debunked the rumor. Iole wrote, “No truth to the rumor of Pereira vs. Volkov. Zero. Move on.”

The claim, initially spread by various sources, now appears questionable, especially since UFC boss Dana White had already dismissed the idea of Pereira moving up to the heavyweight division, particularly for a fight against Jon Jones. White had previously emphasized the size and stylistic differences between Pereira and ‘Bones’, stating bluntly, “No f***ing way,” suggesting the Brazilian’s future remains in the light heavyweight division for now.

The latest update from Kevin Iole adds a layer of intrigue, especially since earlier reports indicated that Alex Pereira would remain at light heavyweight to face top contender Magomed Ankalaev. Although the Volkov matchup proved false, one thing is certain: Pereira is ready to return to the Octagon, probably in March. However, it seems ‘Poatan’ is prepared to postpone Ankalaev’s title aspirations as he continues to chase his own historic goals.

Joe Rogan criticizes Alex Pereira’s timeline for returning to the Octagon

Last month, Alex Pereira took to X to shut down speculation about Magomed Ankalaev being his next opponent, writing, “It won’t be (Magomed) Ankalaev.” This single tweet dashed the hopes of many fans—and Ankalaev himself—who had been eagerly anticipating a matchup between the two. The Russian, who has been waiting since last year for a title shot against ‘Poatan’, has openly expressed frustration with the delay, often directing blunt remarks toward the Brazilian fighter.

The situation took another turn when recent MMA reports revealed Pereira’s planned return to the Octagon in March 2025—a timeline seemingly selected by ‘Poatan’ himself. However, this date coincides with the holy month of Ramadan, expected to run from February 28 to March 29. Muslim fighters like Magomed Ankalaev typically refrain from intense training during this period, making a March fight highly impractical.

During a recent podcast episode, Joe Rogan weighed in on the matter, highlighting the potential implications of Pereira’s timing. Rogan remarked, “Alex just said that he’s going to fight in March and that he’s not going to fight Ankalaev. Because if he’s fighting in March, when is Ramadan? Ankalaev wouldn’t be able to fight in March. He’s got to go through the entire month of Ramadan preparing for a world title fight? February 28th, and it ends March 29th. That’s exactly during the time period when he’s going to fight.'”

With Kevin Iole debunking the rumor of Pereira facing Volkov, it doesn’t change the fact that ‘Poatan’ could return to the Octagon in March. However, with Ankalaev unavailable due to Ramadan, the question remains: who should be the ideal opponent for Pereira in his 4th title defense? Share your thoughts and predictions below.