Unless Gane beats Tom (and doesn’t get wrecked in the process), Alex should face Ulberg before moving up.

[Rubios]

Call me old-fashioned, but to me defenses and title fight wins matter. A lot.
Alex has six. He should be able to beat Ulberg for the 7th.

Is he not an interesting opponent? Neither was Khalil, and his last fight was for a TS in case Ank won.
Both Ulberg and Khalil are going to loom the top 5: it would be a win that time will make look better on his record.

Unless Gane pulls off the upset and doesn’t end up looking like he got hit by a train, being able to return reasonably soon, Alex has absolutely no reason to rush up to heavyweight.
I mean: he’s already old, and except vs Gane he just has a hope in hell against any top 5. They’re all strong wrestlers.

A seventh title win would widen the gap between him and his contemporaries. Ilia is also a double champ, he has three. Islam is going for the welterweight belt, which would be his fifth. And both would have to go through brutal opponents to reach to seven (Arman, Shavkat, Brady...).
Merab should move up to chase the double belt, and there’s Evloev waiting. Maybe Volk still has a bit of run left in him.

Besides, that would bring Alex’s total to 15 title-fight victories (8 in GLORY). It’s a nice number.

The fight with JJ can happen later. He’s a retired fighter who’s just gone through a major traumatic event and doesn't hold any belt.
Alex should aim to become the first triple champion in history, even if (unless it’s against Gane) his chances are very slim.

 

[rear naked ankle pick]

you're old fashioned

 

[andgonsil]

Poatan is hunting champions

Ulberg is just another bum in the shower

 

[CatchtheseHands]

The UFC and Dana don't seem to be that enthusiastic about Alex moving up right now so I wouldn't be surprised if we got a trilogy fight with Jiri or Ank after Ulberg before they have to let him move up cause at that point there is literally nothing more he can do at LHW.

 

[Tweak896]

Ehhh if it wasn't a new title defense streak. Really rather have him jump to HW. I feel like Alex would maybe even lose from it not being something to motivate him. They should fight if he stays at LHW of course, he's the absolute last contender left, but he's beat all the better ones.

 

[Alpha_T83]

If Pereira does have a fractured foot, it could take 6-8 weeks, or more, to heal. He's probably not starting another training camp until after Christmas. Which means we might not see him until March-April 2026 at the earliest.

There is time for Jiri vs Ulberg.

 

[Hdfi]

Ulberg is a good contender but the UFC would be crazy not to capitalize on the opportunity to hold a fight between Alex Pereira and Jones or Aspinall at the White House event.

 

[Goatenstein]

Alex will do anything to avoid a fight with a healthy Ank.

 

[santiago]

Ulberg will get put to sleep also.

 

[Egészségére!]

I might not be up to date on this but didn’t Alex say he’d be willing to fight Jones at HW & move back down in short order so there’s no need to relinquish his title? He’s not moving up for good but is willing to fight between the two divisions so he can take the biggest fights in each (which btw is some seriously boss shit).

 

[Alpha_T83]

I might not be up to date on this but didn’t Alex say he’d be willing to fight Jones at HW & move back down in short order so there’s no need to relinquish his title? He’s not moving up for good but is willing to fight between the two divisions so he can take the biggest fights in each (which btw is some seriously boss shit).

I believe he did. But if he goes up in weight and beats Jon Jones, he's probably not coming back to 205 pounds.

And the UFC has technically banned keeping your championship belt and moving up in weight. They forced Islam Makhachev to vacate his belt, to fight JDM. So technically Pereira can't get a superfight at heavyweight without vacating his title. But of course, we all know the UFC play favorites.

 

[JBJ was here]

I believe he did. But if he goes up in weight and beats Jon Jones, he's probably not coming back to 205 pounds.

And the UFC has technically banned keeping your championship belt and moving up in weight. They forced Islam Makhachev to vacate his belt, to fight JDM. So technically Pereira can't get a superfight at heavyweight without vacating his title. But of course, we all know the UFC play favorites.

The UFC seems committed to not offering title fights in another weight class to a current title holder, but that's different from refusing to book a current title holder for any fight in another division. Anderson Silva fought a few non-title LHW fights when he was MW champion to stay busy when there wasn't a challenger the UFC thought was worth booking. Ulberg is a worthy enough challenger that that shouldn't happen, but not so clearly worthy that I'd say someone's egregiously wrong for thinking otherwise, and there isn't anyone else who doesn't need another win to earn a title shot.

 

[Alpha_T83]

The UFC seems committed to not offering title fights in another weight class to a current title holder, but that's different from refusing to book a current title holder for any fight in another division. Anderson Silva fought a few non-title LHW fights when he was MW champion to stay busy when there wasn't a challenger the UFC thought was worth booking. Ulberg is a worthy enough challenger that that shouldn't happen, but not so clearly worthy that I'd say someone's egregiously wrong for thinking otherwise, and there isn't anyone else who doesn't need another win to earn a title shot.

I think if Pereira moves up to HW he will end up vacating his belt, and we see a Jiri vs Ulberg fight, possibly for an interim title if not vacant.

 

[Captain Herb]

You can't tell anyone what to do. If he thinks he's ready for the big show then let him bang

 

[Captain Herb]

I might not be up to date on this but didn’t Alex say he’d be willing to fight Jones at HW & move back down in short order so there’s no need to relinquish his title? He’s not moving up for good but is willing to fight between the two divisions so he can take the biggest fights in each (which btw is some seriously boss shit).

DFW ain't going for that shit. Two titles is twice the leverage. DFW didn't get where he's at taking IOUs and believing promises.

 

[Gamer007]

Alex would destroy Ulberg, it'd be another nice title defense for sure.

But Alex doesn't have much left in the tank at this stage, if his goal is huge matchups with Jones/Tom then he might want to capitalize on that ASAP. Also with the whole White house card up in the air, losing an opportunity to fight there isn't an option. So if the Ulberg fight in any way keeps him from the white house card, it makes no business sense.


Best option for an Ulberg fight is a quick turnaround in February or something, not sure how booked up those events are though. But Alex could clean him up in a round or two and keep momentum into Summer 2026.

Also I don't think Ulberg even wants to fight Poatan, a lot of guys are just hoping he leaves the division.

 

[laleggenda27]

Everything is set up for Alex to move up. Whether it be Aspinall, Gane, or Jones, those fights all make much more sense (and dollars) for Alex. And Ulberg vs. Jiri is an obvious fight for the vacant title.

Alex is 38 and doesn't have much time left in the sport. In terms of legacy and money, sticking around at 205 would be a waste of time.

 

[Motivated BJ Penn]

Poatan will destroy Ulberg via leg kicks alone

 

[Mmmmmmma1234]

Alex is a big dude he'll be fine at heavyweight vs Jones or Tom and he's a very live dog to both. You're an idiot if you think he's not.

 

[Johnnny]

A seventh title win would widen the gap between him and his contemporaries. Ilia is also a double champ, he has three. Islam is going for the welterweight belt, which would be his fifth. And both would have to go through brutal opponents to reach to seven (Arman, Shavkat, Brady...).
Merab should move up to chase the double belt, and there’s Evloev waiting. Maybe Volk still has a bit of run left in him.

Why would Pereira compare himself to manlets?