Alex Pereira Opens As Underdog To Jones, Aspinall, And Ankalaev
by Trent Reinsmith · ForbesThe big question following Saturday's UFC 303 main event was 'what's next for UFC light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira?" Pereira dropped Jiri Prochazka as the horn ended the first round of their scrap. He finished the fight 13 seconds into the second stanza, depositing Prochazka on the canvas via a head kick and ending the contest with some unnecessary strikes on the ground.
After Pereira's win, his second successful defense of the UFC light heavyweight title, there was some talk about him pursuing a belt in the UFC's heavyweight division.
Before capturing the UFC light heavyweight title, Pereira had a brief run as the UFC middleweight champion.
UFC CEO Dana White slow-rolled that talk at the UFC 303 post-fight press conference. However, that has not prevented oddsmakers from considering a Pereira run at heavyweight.
Sportsbetting.ag offered up odds on Pereira against UFC heavyweight champion Jon Jones and interim heavyweight titleholder Tom Aspinall. Pereira is not favored in either of those matchups.
Aspinall (-400) vs. Pereira (+300)
Jones (-800) vs. Pereira (+500)
As for what could be his next UFC light heavyweight title defense, the bookmaker also installed Pereira as the betting underdog in that matchup.
MORE FOR YOU
Netflix’s Best New Show Has A Perfect 100% Critic Score
New Chrome Security Rules—Google Gives Websites Until 11/1 To Comply
Ranked: The 30 Most Walkable Cities In The World, According To A New Report
Pereira (+130) vs. Magomed Ankalaev (-150)
The site also offered odds on a third MMA matchup between Pereira and former UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya. The two met twice under the UFC banner with both fighters scoring a knockout win. Before they battled in the UFC, Pereira and Adesanya faced off under the Glory Kickboxing banner. Pereira won both of those fights.
Surprisingly, Pereira is an underdog to Adesanya.
Pereira (+155) vs. Adesanya (-185)
Pereira joined the UFC in 2021 with four MMA fights to his name. It took Pereira four fights in the UFC to win the promotion's middleweight title, decking Israel Adesanya at UFC 281.
Pereira's title reign was short-lived.
In their rematch at UFC 287, he gave the belt back to Adesanya, losing by knockout.
Pereira moved up to light heavyweight for his next fight, a matchup against former titleholder Jan Blachowicz. Pereira won that contest by split decision. He hasn't been past the second round since that victory.
In November 2023, Pereira captured the vacant light heavyweight crown with a knockout win over Jiri Prochazka. He defended his belt in April 2024 with a KO of Jamahal Hill. Pereira added a second 205-pound title defense to his record on Saturday with another knockout win over Prochazka. Adding to his dominant run is that Hill and Prochazka are both former UFC light heavyweight champs.