Joe Rogan added some fuel to the recent rumors that UFC light heavyweight king Alex Pereira could be changing divisions […]
Joe Rogan added some fuel to the recent rumors that UFC light heavyweight king Alex Pereira could be changing divisions in a huge super-fight for his 2026 return.
In March, Russian Magomed Ankalaev was able to do something that has only happened twice in Pereira’s 12 UFC appearances. He handed him a rare loss inside the Octagon, winning by unanimous decision. However, the Brazilian showed why he is a living legend in their October rematch.
In just one minute and 20 seconds, “Poatan” got ice-cold revenge when he gave Ankalaev not only his first knockout loss, but it was the first L of his 23-fight career. A trilogy bout between the light heavyweight stars makes sense. However, there have been rumblings even before Pereira’s recent loss about a move up to heavyweight.
This week, beloved UFC commentator and world-famous podcaster Joe Rogan added more fuel to the recent speculation that the champ could face former interim titlist Ciryl Gane when he returns to the Octagon in 2026.
Alex Pereira record: 13-3 (11knockouts)
“There’s a lot of chatter about him fighting in the heavyweight division. There’s a lot of chatter about him, perhaps even fighting Ciryl Gane,” he said on a new edition of the Joe Rogan Experience. “I don’t know how much is true. I haven’t talked to Dana about it. But it’s not an illogical move.
“He’s 240 pounds right now. Make no mistake about it, that guy can knock out heavyweights. No doubt about it. He hits harder than anyone they’ve ever recorded.”
Pereira moving up to heavyweight and becoming the champion would make history because he would be the first UFC fighter ever to win belts in three weight classes. However, he could potentially face Gane instead of current champ Tom Aspinall because the Englishman is still recovering from a nasty eye poke that ended his title defense against Gane in October.
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