Alex Pereira targets third UFC title return following knockout loss

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Alex Pereira is willing to fight “anyone” next to make sure he’s once again back in line for the UFC heavyweight championship in 2027, and treats it as a “mission” in his career. The former UFC middleweight and light heavyweight champion failed to win the interim heavyweight title this past June, losing by knockout to Ciryl Gane in the co-main event of UFC White House, and currently aims for a November return to the octagon. Speaking with fans during a Q&A on Friday in Serbia prior to the UFC Belgrade ceremonial weigh-ins, Pereira promised to win the title if given another opportunity. “I’m satisfied with my career, but I still have one mission left,” Pereira said [h/t Fight 4 Yours]. “It didn’t work out this time at the White House, and that’s winning my third title. I’m going after that third belt. When I focus on something, I always achieve it. And next time, I won’t let it slip away.” Pereira still hasn’t returned to hard training after a difficult fight with Gane in Washington, D.C., but noted “there’s still some time until November.” The Brazilian star has previously mentioned his desire to be part of the UFC’s annual card on Madison Square Garden in New York in November. “I’m focused, but I don’t have a specific opponent in mind,” Pereira said. “Like I said, whoever they put in front of me, I’ll fight.” “Poatan” was also asked about Herb Dean’s work in his fight with Gane, having openly criticized Dean for missing illegal strikes ever since, but said he “wouldn’t call it a robbery.” “But there were mistakes made,” Pereira said. “Everybody knows the rules, everybody knows how it works. The referee was there and he should have handled it differently. Maybe that would’ve changed the fight? Maybe I would’ve won? I don’t know. But the fight definitely would’ve been different.” Pereira has only lost three times in the UFC, all in championship bouts across three weight divisions, and said the secret to always bouncing back is knowing it can happen. “Of course, nobody wants to lose,” Pereira said. “I didn’t want to lose that fight. It was a very important fight. It’s happened to me before, in kickboxing. It’s something I never want to get used to, to losing, being defeated, but I know it’s part of the sport. And when you accept that it’s part of it, that it can happen, you’re able to come back stronger. “That’s what happens with me. It happens to a lot of people who have never lost before, when they lose a really important fight, they get frustrated, fall into depression, and can’t handle that pain. But I think I’ve already accepted that. I don’t want to get used to losing, but I’ve accepted that it’s part of the journey, and that allows you to come back stronger.”