Ultimate Fighting Championship belt holder Alex Pereira and his team believe they can be in charge of who is next for him.Fans of “Poatan” have been waiting early for his next challenge after he reclaims the light heavyweight throne in October 2025. Pereira exacted revenge on Russian Magomed Ankalaev, eliminating him within 80 seconds to avenge a defeat suffered months earlier. This made the former kickboxer the third man to hold the 205-pound title twice, joining Randy Couture and Jon Jones on that illustrious list.
As Pereira recovers from an apparent foot injury sustained during Ankalaev’s rematch, rumors are swirling that the UFC has a likely title eliminator lined up in the form of Carlos Ulberg vs. Jiri Prochazka. Other potential foes include newly minted middleweight king Khamzat Chimaev, who has threatened to move up in weight, as well as a possible “Poatan” move to heavyweight to try to make big MMA history as a three-division champion.A third option, and the one he and his camp have pushed for the most, is a heavyweight meeting with Jones. Speaking to Sherdog, Pereira’s manager Ed Soares believes that of all the options on the table, a fight against Jones is one that would best cement his all-time athlete’s great status.
“Obviously a shot at a third title would be something very special and important for him, but Jon Jones is the fight we want. It would be a traditional fight,” argued the manager and CEO of Legacy Fighting Alliance.In terms of simply keeping the light heavyweight division moving and taking on another test, Pereira’s team suggests Ulberg would make the most sense. However, there is one fight in particular that they have turned their noses at: Chimaev.
“What do you mean,” Soares asked when Chimaev’s name came up as a possible opponent. “Chimaev just won the middleweight title and hasn’t even defended it yet. Look at everything ‘Potatan’ has done over the years, it wouldn’t make any sense.”
Heavyweight kingpin Tom Aspinall still needs some recovery time after multiple surgeries on his eye pokes from Ciryl Gane, so an interim heavyweight title has been secured. Soares doesn’t think that’s a good option either and has another fight in mind if that becomes a reality.
“If it’s going to be an interim title fight with Gane, they should call Volkov, who beat him in the first fight,” Soares pitched.
‘Pitbull’ in April, Pantoja in June
Soares is not just Pereira’s manager, he has a stable of athletes under his umbrella, including the aforementioned Volkov. Both Patricio Freire and Alexandre Pantoja remain members of his flock, and he chose to reveal some information about both.When it comes to “Pitbull,” Soares claimed the former Bellator MMA giant is in advanced negotiations to return to the Octagon in April, but he couldn’t reveal who the potential foe would be or what event Freire would return to. However, he did have a clearer vision for ex-flyweight champion Pantoja, which would be a rematch with Joshua Van this summer.
“There were no fractures or ligament injuries [sustained by
Pantoja]”, Soares repeated. “I believe that in June, a little before or a little after, Pantoja will already have the rematch and regain his title.”
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