UFC light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira has revealed his plans for the future after his recent victory and the injury suffered in the fight. Pereira, after regaining his 205-pound title by knocking out Magomed Ankalaev in just 80 seconds at UFC 320, suffered a fracture in his left foot. The fight was a rematch of the March encounter, where Pereira lost the belt to Ankalaev by unanimous decision. In a public appearance in Rio de Janeiro, Pereira shared details about his injury and his aspirations. The 38-year-old fighter hopes to return in eight months, aiming for the UFC’s visit to the White House on June 14.
Initially, Pereira intended to challenge Jon Jones after his victory, but opted for a moment of silence in memory of Jones’ brother, Arthur Jones. Pereira and Jones have expressed interest in facing each other in the past. Jones, retired from MMA, announced his return for the event at the White House. Pereira has not revealed a specific date for his return nor a defined opponent. There are several options, including a title defense against Jiří Procházka and Carlos Ulberg, or a possible move up to heavyweight to face the winner of the fight between Tom Aspinall and Ciryl Gane. Pereira’s injury history suggests he could be ready to compete within a timeframe similar to that estimated for the June event.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 will happen or how long the recovery will take. I think it’s good to focus on this fight [at the White House]. Now, that’s something that interests me.
Alex Pereira
