Pereira Starts 2026 With Gift For His Father

Published: Tuesday, January 6, 2026 at 5:37 am

Pereira Kicks Off 2026 with Family Celebrations and Heavyweight Ambitions

Alex Pereira, fresh off a triumphant 2025, is starting 2026 with a mix of personal milestones and ambitious career goals. The year began with a heartwarming gesture, a gift for his father, following a year of significant achievements in the Octagon.

Pereira's 2025 was marked by both adversity and ultimate success. In March, he suffered a title loss to Magomed Ankalaev at UFC 313. However, he quickly rebounded, reclaiming the light heavyweight title in October at UFC 320 with a swift TKO victory, avenging his only career loss in the division.

Outside the cage, Pereira's personal life is also thriving. He and UFC flyweight Tracy Cortez confirmed their relationship on New Year's Eve. Additionally, his sons, Alessandro and Lohan, both secured victories at a grappling event in early January.

Looking ahead, Pereira is setting his sights on a historic feat: becoming the first three-division champion in UFC history by moving up to the heavyweight division. While a potential match against Jon Jones at a proposed event was discussed, those plans appear to have been scrapped. This opens the door for a possible clash with Ciryl Gane for an interim heavyweight title, while current champion Tom Aspinall recovers from surgery.

The prospect of Pereira facing Gane has generated considerable buzz within the MMA community. Commentator Joe Rogan has weighed in, suggesting the move is logical given Pereira's current weight and striking power. Rogan emphasized Pereira's ability to knock out heavyweights, highlighting his exceptional punching power.

BNN's Perspective:

Pereira's trajectory is undeniably exciting. While the move to heavyweight presents a significant challenge, his proven power and recent success make him a compelling contender. The potential fight with Gane is a high-stakes matchup that could further solidify his legacy, regardless of the outcome.

Keywords: Alex Pereira, UFC, heavyweight, Ciryl Gane, Tom Aspinall, Joe Rogan, light heavyweight, MMA, title, champion, boxing, fighting, combat sports, Jon Jones, Tracy Cortez

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