UFC

UFC Star Alex Pereira Slams Door Shut On A Potential Boxing Match Against Jake Paul and Discusses Next Fight Date

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James Lloyd
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James Lloyd Sports Editor

James is a sports writer specialising in football news, betting, and statistics. He also writes about various other sports, including tennis, boxing, and MMA. His work has been featured on multiple online sports platforms, including Sports Lens and Breaking The Lines. James holds a Master's degree in Sport & Exercise Physiology and currently works as a Video Scout for 360 Scouting.

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Published16 hours ago on October 18, 2024

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Alex Pereira - UFC

UFC light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira sheds light on when his next fight could be but rules out a potential boxing match with Jake Paul.

Alex Pereira Rules Out Boxing Match With Jake Paul

Fresh off a dominant knockout victory over Khalil Rountree Jr. at UFC 307, Pereira has made it clear that he’s not interested in stepping away from his UFC commitments for a boxing bout.

While Paul has publicly expressed interest in fighting Pereira, the Brazilian has dismissed the idea, citing his UFC contract as the primary reason.

“I’m going to be honest; of course, boxing interests me,” Pereira told Ariel Helwani. “But he knows that I’m under contract to the UFC, and I can’t just leave.

“I think that’s why he calls [me out] and says all of that. I think if the UFC was a league that allows everybody to fight anywhere, I don’t think he’d be saying that.”

While a boxing match with Paul may be off the table for now, it’s possible that the two could face off in the future if Pereira’s UFC contract expires. For now, however, Pereira is content to continue his reign as the UFC light heavyweight champion.

Alex Pereira Discusses Possible Next Fight Date

Pereira’s recent performances have cemented his status as one of the most dominant fighters in the UFC. His three consecutive knockout victories over top-ranked contenders have earned him widespread praise and admiration.

Despite suffering from a variety of injuries leading up to his fight against Rountree, he was able to overcome adversity and deliver a stunning performance.

Pereira outlined when we could expect to see him fight next, speaking on the Ariel Helwani Show: “Ideally, I will fight around June (2025). I’d maybe like to fight around March even. But honestly, if it was up to me, I’d fight in December.

“The problem is these [past] two fights happened too soon, and we had a lot of other appearances, a lot of trips, a lot of business to do, and we had to push them after these two fights because they were scheduled for before.

“The guys were organised; they understood, but we have some obligations to do. So, I feel that around March is a good date.”