Alex Pereira Teases Heavyweight Fight Announcement for Friday
Alex Pereira posted a cryptic 'Tomorrow' on social media, hinting at a heavyweight return after his failed triple crown bid.
Alex Pereira has something cooking. The former UFC middleweight and light heavyweight champion took to social media Thursday with a single word: "Tomorrow."
Pereira has been hinting at a return for weeks, per Yahoo Sports, and the timing lines up with a heavyweight booking. He intends to stay at heavyweight after his failed attempt to become the UFC's first triple champion, when he lost to Ciryl Gane at UFC White House.
Pereira has contested that loss, arguing that Gane threw multiple punches to the back of his head during the final moments of their fight. His request for an immediate rematch was denied by the UFC.
The likely opponents for Pereira's return sit in the heavyweight top five. Sergei Pavlovich, ranked second, and Alexander Volkov, ranked fourth, have both been mentioned as potential matchups, per Yahoo Sports. Pereira recently returned to the United States and Connecticut, where he typically begins training camps.
A Friday announcement would be signature Pereira. The Brazilian has built one of the UFC's biggest brands on social media spectacle and knockout power, and whatever comes next will carry massive pay-per-view implications. The heavyweight division has been reshuffled since Tom Aspinall vacated the title, and Pereira remains one of its biggest draws regardless of his record at the weight.
One word. That's all Pereira needs to get the whole sport talking. The man lost to Gane and somehow still feels like the most dangerous heavyweight out there. That's star power you can't manufacture.
I think we're getting Pereira vs. Pavlovich, and I think it's for UFC 333 in Abu Dhabi. That card already has Yan vs. Merab III, and adding Pereira makes it a legitimate blockbuster. If it's Volkov instead, that's a step down in name value but still a fan-friendly fight. Either way, I'm in. The back-of-the-head argument from the Gane fight isn't going away, but the rematch shouldn't be next. Let Pereira get a win at heavyweight first. He earned that much.
