Alex Pereira Eyes Superfights Beyond UFC 313

Alex Pereira

As Alex Pereira prepares to defend his light heavyweight title at UFC 313, he’s well aware of the magnitude of his stardom. A dominant force inside the Octagon, Pereira (12-2) recognizes that his stock has never been higher. Ahead of his main event showdown against Magomed Ankalaev, the Brazilian knockout artist isn’t just thinking about his next fight—he’s envisioning the massive opportunities that could follow.

"I believe so," Pereira stated when asked if he’s currently the biggest star in the sport outside of Jon Jones. "I had a busy year with great success. I just keep doing this work, and I believe so."

Despite his focus on Ankalaev, Pereira understands the financial and historical implications of potential super fights. If he successfully defends his title, the possibilities are endless.

"I’m not looking past ahead," he admitted. "But what I think for the future, what I have in hand, is either Dricus (Du Plessis), Jon Jones, or even fighting Oleksandr Usyk in boxing. Those, I see possibly happening."

A showdown with UFC middleweight champion Dricus Du Plessis could provide an opportunity for Pereira to reclaim his old throne, while a clash with heavyweight king Jon Jones would be one of the biggest fights in UFC history. Should Pereira decide to step into the boxing ring, a matchup with unified heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk would be a monumental crossover battle.

However, before any of those megafights can materialize, Pereira must first get past the challenge in front of him. Ankalaev (20-1-1) is the toughest stylistic test of Pereira’s career. Many view this as the ultimate striker vs. grappler showdown, but Pereira is unfazed.

"If I was in the same position I could watch this fight," he said. "Basically or theoretically, it’s a striker vs. a grappler. … He’s a complete fighter, not only a wrestler. He has skills everywhere. But I’m prepared, too."

Since transitioning to MMA, Pereira has trained with former champion Glover Teixeira and believes he has developed the necessary tools to deal with Ankalaev’s well-rounded skill set.

"I’ve been training wrestling and grappling since before I joined the UFC," he emphasized. I came there to be an MMA fighter, and I’m ready for this."

With UFC 313 just around the corner, Pereira remains locked in on the task at hand. But should he emerge victorious, his next move could be one of the most significant in combat sports history.