Big news dropped this week that could shake up the combat sports world! UFC CEO Dana White and Saudi Arabia’s combat sports promoter Turki Alalshikh have struck a landmark deal to bring TKO Group Holdings into the boxing realm. What’s the buzz? This could pave the way for UFC light heavyweight champ Alex “Poatan” Pereira to step into the boxing ring against heavyweight king Oleksandr Usyk.

Pereira, who’s gearing up to defend his UFC title this Saturday at UFC 313 in Las Vegas against Magomed Ankalaev, couldn’t hide his excitement during media day. Speaking in Portuguese, he shared his reaction to Wednesday’s bombshell announcement: “I jumped for joy when I saw it. Maybe September. Saudi Arabia.”

The idea of this crossover clash has been simmering for a while. Pereira was the first to throw his hat in the ring, followed by Usyk signaling his own interest. Now, it’s up to the organizations to make it happen. “I’ll be ready,” Pereira declared.

With this deal in motion, fight fans might just get the blockbuster showdown they’ve been dreaming of. Stay tuned—this could be one for the ages!

Could Alex Pereira Be the Next UFC Star to Cross Over to Boxing?

Remember the spectacle that was Conor McGregor vs. Floyd Mayweather? It was a once-in-a-lifetime event, a clash of titans that shattered pay-per-view records and generated a mountain of cash. It was also the only time the UFC has ever officially partnered with a boxing entity. Now, with Alex “Poatan” Pereira throwing his hat into the boxing ring, could we be on the verge of another historic crossover?

Pereira, the current UFC light heavyweight champion, has openly expressed interest in a boxing match against heavyweight boxing champ Oleksandr Usyk. This has sparked a ton of buzz, but is it just a pipe dream? 

The McGregor-Mayweather fight was a phenomenon. It wasn’t just a fight; it was a cultural event. 4.3 million domestic pay-per-view buys? That’s legendary. And let’s not forget the hundreds of millions of dollars that changed hands. Can Pereira replicate that kind of success?

He acknowledges the challenge. “It’s hard to answer,” Pereira admitted. “We know of the popularity of those two, and I’m coming. I’m on my path, I’m coming, but I still think I’m one step behind them in terms of media, so I don’t know how it would be.”

UFC President Dana White, who famously said there was “no chance” McGregor would box Mayweather, has downplayed his interest in seeing UFC fighters boxing under his new boxing venture. “I literally don’t want to see any of that,” he stated on The Pat McAfee Show. But let’s be real, White has a history of changing his mind when the money is right.

Pereira: The Face of the UFC?

Pereira believes he’s now the face of the UFC, and it’s hard to argue. He’s been incredibly active, delivering knockout performances and generating massive media attention. “I’m a very active fighter, last year was a very successful year, so I think my name is being talked about, I’m on the media with good results, so I believe “I am the face of the UFC.”

Being the face of the UFC certainly gives him leverage.

While his immediate focus is defending his light heavyweight title against Magomed Ankalaev, Pereira is keeping his options wide open. He’s mentioned potential fights with Dricus Du Plessis, Jon Jones, and, of course, Oleksandr Usyk. 

“I want to defend my belt, that’s my focus, but we definitely have options,” Pereira said. “A fight with Dricus [Du Plessis at 205 pounds] or Jon Jones at heavyweight, or boxing Usyk. These are things that are in my mind, and I think these three options are possible. It doesn’t depend on me, I don’t have that control. Whatever the UFC says I have to do, I’ll do.”

Will we see Alex Pereira step into the boxing ring against Oleksandr Usyk? It’s a tantalizing prospect. With Pereira’s rising star, Dana White’s penchant for big money fights, and the sheer spectacle of a UFC champion taking on a heavyweight boxing king, it’s definitely a possibility.