Alex Pereira to Take Hiatus from UFC Until March Due to Sponsorship Commitments

Alex Pereira, the reigning light heavyweight champion of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), has announced that he will be stepping away from the Octagon until March 2025 due to sponsorship commitments. Pereira revealed his plans in an interview with Ariel Helwani on “The Uncrowned.”

Pereira expressed his desire to return to fighting in December, but cited the fast-paced nature of his recent schedule and accumulated business obligations as reasons for the delay. “If it was up to me, I’d fight in December,” Pereira stated. “The problem is, the two fights happened too soon. We had a lot of appearances, trips and a lot of business we had to do. The organization understood, so we think that around March is a good date.”

The Brazilian fighter has had a landmark year, making headlines in 2024 with a perfect 3-0 record. His impressive run included knockout wins in three title defenses against notable fighters such as Jamahal Hill, Jiri Prochazka, and most recently, Khalil Rountree Jr.

Pereira’s absence leaves a significant gap in UFC’s lineup, prompting the promotion to look towards other stars to maintain drawing power. The upcoming months will see UFC featherweight champion Ilia Topuria defending his title against Max Holloway on October 26, and a high-profile heavyweight clash between Jon Jones and Stipe Miocic in November.

Looking ahead, UFC 310 is expected to feature Belal Muhammad defending his welterweight title against Shavkat Rahkmonov, which, while exciting, may not appeal as strongly to casual fans. Additionally, Conor McGregor and Dan Hooker have tentatively agreed to a match in Saudi Arabia on February 1, though there is skepticism about McGregor’s participation.

Emerging talents such as Kayla Harrison, who may face Julianna Pena for the UFC women’s bantamweight title, are speculated to fill the void. A victory could potentially lead to a significant showdown with Amanda Nunes, who has hinted at a return to the sport.