What initially appeared to be a sign of tension between Alex Pereira and the UFC may have been a misunderstanding.
In just a few years, Pereira has ascended to become one of the UFC’s most celebrated and consistent stars, etching his name among the sport’s elite. In only seven fights across two years, the Brazilian powerhouse exceeded expectations and claimed championship titles in two weight classes.
In 2024, “Poatan” became the UFC’s ultimate backup plan, stepping in on short notice to save two of the promotion’s most high-profile events. First, he rose to the challenge at UFC 300 in April, facing Jamahal Hill, and then again at UFC 303 during International Fight Week against Jiří Procházka. On both occasions, the former two division champion not only delivered but triumphed.
On Wednesday, a confusing post from Pereira’s official X account surfaced, hinting at a potential fallout with the UFC and suggesting he might be considering retirement. The post stirred widespread speculation among fans and media alike.
“I always answered the UFC’s calls, but if they want to play with me, we can do that. I’ve never spoken poorly of the UFC but with what I’ve just heard I’m disheartened. I’ve already had thoughts of not fighting anymore, and after what was just relayed to me this may be the start.”
https://twitter.com/AlexPereiraUFC/status/1920175533708456134
The post sparked widespread speculation within the MMA community about what might have specifically triggered Pereira’s frustration with the UFC — whether it was opponent selection, fight timing, contract negotiations, or another underlying issue.
However, “Poatan” recently took to Instagram to deny making the statement, claiming that his account had been compromised.
“I’ve received a ton of messages, getting messages from everyone, who saw a post from my Twitter,” Alex Pereira said in Portuguese. I didn’t even know about it, I was hacked. It’s been a while since I’ve posted anything, you guys see. But I was hacked and I’ll resolve it. I don’t even know what’s going on. I have a great relationship with UFC. People like to do bad things. That’s that. Chama.”
Pereira’s most recent appearance came at UFC 313 in March, where he was unable to defend his light heavyweight title, losing a closely contested unanimous decision to Magomed Ankalaev. With that setback, his UFC record now stands at 9-2, including seven knockout wins.
