The groundbreaking deal between UFC CEO Dana White and Saudi Arabia combat sports promoter Turki Alalshikh to bring TKO Group Holdings over to the boxing world could open the door for Alex Pereira to box heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk in the squared circle, and “Poatan” reaffirmed his interest.
Pereira defends his UFC light heavyweight belt Saturday in Las Vegas against Magomed Ankalaev, and reacted to Wednesday’s stunning news during the UFC 313 media day.
“I jumped for joy when I saw the announcement,” Pereira said in Portuguese. “Maybe September. Saudi Arabia.
“I was the first to show interest, and then Usyk showed interest. And now we have to see the interest of the organizations. I’ll be ready.”
The only time the UFC has agreed to partner with a boxing entity for a special event was when Conor McGregor, a two-division UFC champion at the time, set up a boxing spectacle against Floyd Mayweather. “The Notorious” lost via stoppage in the 10th round, but amassed 4.3 million domestic pay-per-view buys — one of the biggest selling cards of all time —and earned hundreds of millions in profits.
White downplayed his interest in UFC fighters crossing over to his new boxing venture during an appearance on The Pat McAfee Show saying “I literally don’t want to see any of that” but he also once said there was no chance McGregor would engage in a boxing match against Mayweather.
The added interest in the fight also comes Usyk serving as the current heavyweight champion, whereas Mayweather was retired for nearly two years before facing McGregor. But the Brazilian doesn’t know if his potential match against Usyk could actually surpass Mayweather vs. McGregor in terms of commercial success.
“It’s hard to answer,” Pereira said. “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.”
That said, “Poatan” believes he’s now the face of the UFC at the moment given his success both inside and outside the octagon and that only helps his cause.
“I think so,” Pereira responded when asked if he’s become the face of the promotion. “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].”
While Pereira reaffirmed he’s fully focused on defending his belt Saturday against Ankalaev, reaching his fourth title defense at light heavyweight, he’s definitely keeping his options wide open for the future.
“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.”
