Alex Pereira makes fight plea to Oleksandr Usyk as he explains why future ‘champion vs champion’ event makes sense
UFC light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira wants to face Oleksandr Usyk in a boxing fight.
Pereira is willing to test his skills against the world champion as the Brazilian has arguably conquered MMA already.
He entered the UFC in 2021 and became the middleweight champion a year later following his infamous round five knockout of Israel Adesanya.
After a loss in the rematch, Pereira moved up to light heavyweight and earned the belt in that division which he still holds after three title defences.
The 37-year-old has entertained the idea of moving up to heavyweight in an attempt to become the UFC’s first three division champion but his legacy is already secured.
A more impressive achievement is beating Usyk who became boxing’s first undisputed heavyweight champion in nearly 25 years when he beat Tyson Fury in 2024.
He gave up the IBF belt shortly after, but his second victory over Fury secured him the title of best boxer having also dominated the cruiserweight division.
Despite that, Pereira is not scared. “I don’t know, I think anything is possible,” he said. “It’s something I can’t plan, but it is something I would really like to do.
“That’s something that I really want. I’m under contract with the UFC. We know [Conor] McGregor did it [against Floyd Mayweather in 2017]. I don’t know how I would, but someday I would really like to do it.”
Pereira was a previous two division Glory kickboxing champion and also won his professional boxing debut in 2017 via third round TKO.
He continued: “I’m the champ. I would like to fight the champ. I think it’s a very good fight. I love boxing. I see some people talking, ‘Oh, if it were pure boxing he would be lost’.
“Man, when you talk pure boxing, I feel great. I think I could fight these guys out there. I’ve already done some sparring with experienced guys, Plinio [Cruz, his coach] knows it, and they’re winning everything there.”
Usyk is yet to lose with a record of 23 wins, 14 by knockout. Forget Adesanya, the Ukranian would be Pereira’s hardest fight yet.
Cruz added: “Me, personally, I’ve put him already to spar some world-class, top-10 heavyweight boxers.
“Guys with names, real good names that I’m not going to mention, but he did really good, so I think he could do good. I believe in him.”
But before the potential bout Pereira is scheduled to fight Magomed Ankalaev in March as a headliner at UFC 313.
A bout that could be his toughest in the UFC to date as Ankalaev has a solid ground game that could overpower the champion.
Yes, the Russian has verbally committed to a stand up fight but as he holds a disadvantage on the feet it may be a bluff to lure Pereira into a false sense of security.
