Pereira: Fractured Foot, Hints at UFC White House Fight

Alex Pereira Focused on White House Event After Fracture

The UFC light heavyweight champion, Alex Pereira, has revealed his plans after his recent victory. Pereira, who suffered a fracture in his left foot during his title fight, is focused on a possible match at the UFC event at the White House in June. Pereira (13-3) regained his 205-pound championship by knocking out Magomed Ankalaev (21-2-1) in just 80 seconds at UFC 320 in Las Vegas. This fight was a rematch of the March fight, where Pereira lost the title to Ankalaev by decision after five rounds. Immediately after regaining the belt, Pereira was seen with a walking boot on his left foot. During a public appearance in Rio de Janeiro this week, Pereira confirmed the fracture in his left foot. The 38-year-old fighter expects to return in eight months, coinciding with the UFC’s visit to the White House on June 14.

I had an X-ray in Las Vegas and then an MRI in Brazil. It showed a fracture in my foot, but I still don’t know what’s going to happen or how long the recovery will take. I think it’s good to focus on this fight in the White House. Now, that’s something that interests me.

Alex Pereira

Following his victory at UFC 320, Pereira intended to challenge former heavyweight champion Jon Jones, but opted for a moment of silence in memory of the recent passing of Jones’s older brother, former NFL player Arthur Jones. Pereira and Jones have expressed mutual interest in facing each other in the past. Jones retired from MMA earlier this year, but has announced his return to participate in the White House event. This week, Pereira did not specify a date for his return or a target opponent. There are several options for his next challenge, including a title defense against contenders like Jiří Procházka and Carlos Ulberg, or a move up to heavyweight to face the winner of this month’s title fight between Tom Aspinall and Ciryl Gane. Pereira has already experienced bone fractures in the past and has managed to return in a time frame similar to what he would need to be ready for June.