Alex Pereira Says Boxing Move Is Almost Impossible With Seven UFC Fights Left
Alex Pereira has seven fights left on his UFC deal and says his age makes a boxing career unrealistic.
Alex Pereira is not going anywhere.
The former two-division UFC champion told Fred Talks Fighting that a move to professional boxing is "kind of impossible" given his current situation. The math is simple and it works against him.
"Well, we have seven fights left on my UFC contract. I'm 39. It's kind of impossible," Pereira said.
Pereira signed a new eight-fight deal with the UFC earlier in 2026. He vacated the light heavyweight title and moved up to heavyweight, debuting at 265 pounds on June 14 against Ciryl Gane for the interim heavyweight title. Gane stopped him in the second round, per LowKick MMA.
Despite the loss, Pereira is already booked for his next fight. Dana White announced Pereira vs. Sergei Pavlovich as the co-main event of UFC 335 on December 12 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. The five-round heavyweight bout could serve as a title eliminator.
Even if Pereira fights through the remaining seven bouts at a pace of two or three per year, he would be 41 or 42 by the time his contract expires. At that point, exhibition boxing might still be on the table, but a serious run at a professional boxing career would be a tough sell.
For now, Pereira's focus is entirely on the Octagon. And with Pavlovich waiting in December, he has plenty on his plate.
I get why people keep asking Pereira about boxing. The guy knocked out middleweights with his hands and has a kickboxing resume that would make most professional boxers nervous. But the reality is what it is. Seven fights and 39 years old. The UFC has him locked down.
The Pavlovich fight in December is a smart matchup for both guys. Pereira needs to prove the Gane loss was a speed bump, not a ceiling. Pavlovich needs a signature win after his own rough stretch. That fight has knockout written all over it, and it is happening right here in Vegas at T-Mobile.
If Pereira can string together a few heavyweight wins, the boxing conversation becomes irrelevant anyway. Why chase a different sport when you are one or two fights away from a UFC heavyweight title shot? The money is here, the spotlight is here, and Pereira is at his best when he has something to prove.
