Alex Pereira addresses fan concerns and confirms he's not stepping away from the sport following a suspected social media hack!
UFC fans breathed a collective sigh of relief yesterday after Alex Pereira clarified that his apparent retirement threat was just a hoax. The former light heavyweight champion has been on quite a journey in the octagon. From kickboxing legend to UFC superstar in record time, Pereira’s path has been nothing short of remarkable. His powerful striking and calm demeanor quickly made him a fan favorite as he climbed through the ranks.
But things took an unexpected turn this week during the lead-up to UFC 315. After suffering his first light heavyweight loss to Magomed Ankalaev at UFC 313 in March, Pereira seemed ready for an immediate rematch. The defeat came as a shock to many who had watched him dominate the division with three successful title defenses in 2024, all ending in spectacular KOs. These performances had even earned him “Fighter of the Year” before Ankalaev claimed his belt by unanimous decision.
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Yesterday, a cryptic message appeared on Pereira’s X account that sent shockwaves through the MMA world.The message went on to suggest that Pereira was considering retirement due to behind-the-scenes issues with UFC leadership.
“I always answered the UFC’s calls, but if they want to play with me, we can do that. I’ve never spoken poorly of the UFC but with what I’ve just heard I’m disheartened. I’ve already had thoughts of not fighting anymore, and after what was just relayed to me this may be the start.”
The timing couldn’t have been worse as the UFC prepares for another major pay-per-view card in Montreal this weekend. Fans and analysts immediately began speculating about what might have gone wrong between the promotion and one of its biggest stars. The post seemed to suggest that after stepping up for multiple short-notice fights throughout 2024, Pereira felt the UFC wasn’t reciprocating his loyalty when it came to negotiating an immediate rematch with Ankalaev.
The retirement scare turned out to be nothing more than a security breach. Pereira quickly addressed the situation through his Instagram story, firmly shutting down any talk of tension with the organization.
“My account was hacked. I don’t even know what’s going on, I have a great relationship with the UFC.”
It’s not the first time we’ve seen fighters’ social media accounts compromised. The Pereira incident also comes just weeks after new champion Ankalaev publicly questioned whether the Brazilian star still wanted to compete. At the time, fans dismissed Ankalaev’s comments, but the fake retirement post briefly gave those claims new life.
At 37, Pereira remains one of the UFC’s most exciting fighters. Before the loss to Ankalaev, there was serious talk of a potential superfight with heavyweight champion Jon Jones. Now, the former champion is focused on earning his way back to the title!
(Image Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie – Imagn Images)
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