Alex Pereira has decided to stay at heavyweight and will face Sergei Pavlovich in a five-round co-main event at UFC 335. The fight could have major implications for the heavyweight title picture.
Ciryl Gane is scheduled to defend his undisputed heavyweight championship against Josh Hokit at UFC 334, just a month before Pereira and Pavlovich step inside the Octagon.
For Pereira, this is another chance to prove he belongs among the heavyweights and keep his dream of becoming the UFC’s first three-division champion alive. However, with the Brazilian now 39, fans are also wondering what comes next if he manages to win a third world title.
Will he retire on top or stick around for a few title defenses? Others might hope to see Pereira test himself in boxing and cash in on some massive paydays. Unfortunately for those fans, the Brazilian has seemingly shut the door on that possibility.
Alex Pereira Rules Out Boxing Move With Seven Fights Remaining on UFC Contract
In a recent interview with Fred Talks Fighting, the former two-division champion was asked whether fans would ever see him compete in a boxing ring. He responded in Portuguese, “Well, we have seven fights left on [my] UFC contract. I’m 39; it’s kind of impossible. But [I’m] happy to be here with [Plinio].”
For those unfamiliar, Plinio Cruz is Pereira’s coach, who is set to compete against Gary Olive for the Misfits Boxing heavyweight title at the Copper Box Arena in London.
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As for Pereira’s new UFC deal, the Brazilian signed an eight-fight contract ahead of his interim heavyweight title bout against Ciryl Gane at the White House.
Pereira has spoken positively about the new deal, and the opportunity to chase a third world title reportedly made it easier for him to vacate the light heavyweight championship he had reclaimed at UFC 320.
Although he has not disclosed the financial details, Pereira appears happy with the terms. And if he is already ruling out a move to boxing, it is fair to wonder whether his UFC contract offers enough financial incentive to keep him from pursuing those lucrative crossover fights.
Interestingly, Pereira had a very different outlook last year. During an appearance on the Connect Cast, he said he was “definitely going to box” because he liked the idea of challenging himself under a different set of rules.
In February 2025, heavyweight boxing champion Oleksandr Usyk also expressed interest in facing Pereira in a high-profile “show fight” before retiring.
“Poatan” welcomed the callout. During media days, Pereira argued that boxing was one of his strongest base skills, revealing that he had sparred successfully against top-10 heavyweight boxers and believed his legendary power could translate well to the ring.
However, with his latest comments about his age and remaining UFC contract, Pereira appears to be prioritizing his MMA career. For fans hoping to see him trade the Octagon for a boxing ring, that dream may have to remain on hold.
Kshitiz Kumar Singh is a UFC Writer at NY Fights with over three years of experience in sports journalism and content creation. Known for his sharp storytelling and passion for combat sports, he has written in-depth features on stars like Brock Lesnar, Randy Couture, and Ilia Topuria. Before joining NY Fights, Kshitiz worked as a UFC Editor at EssentiallySports while currently serving as a WWE Editor at FirstSportz. His admiration for legends like Georges St-Pierre continues to inspire his detailed and engaging MMA coverage. Whether he’s covering the Octagon or the squared circle, Kshitiz is committed to delivering accurate, high-quality content. Outside the world of sports, he’s a dedicated cinephile, often found practicing monologues from his favorite Al Pacino films, combining his love for cinema with storytelling.
