Alex Pereira has hinted at a possible retirement, stating he is now afraid to return to competition after what happened in his last fight and suggesting he may have already accomplished enough. Meanwhile, Ian Garry pledged to be a far more active welterweight champion than Islam Makhachev, who he noted fights roughly once a year, with Makhachev's next defense potentially coming as late as July 2027. UFC also unveiled its long-promised AI-powered rankings, which produced notable departures from the traditional media rankings, including Blachowicz appearing at No. 15 in the light heavyweight division rather than his No. 4 media ranking position.
Alex Pereira has cast doubt on his fighting future, while Ian Garry — not yet a champion — has staked a bold claim about how he would operate as welterweight titleholder, and the UFC's newly launched AI-powered rankings have stirred debate across several divisions. None of these developments are officially confirmed, and all should be treated as unverified reports at this stage.
Pereira, 38, holds the light heavyweight championship with a professional record of 13-4-0 and has been one of the most active title-holders in recent UFC history. The Brazilian, who stands six-foot-four with a 79-inch reach, lands an extraordinary 5.16 significant strikes per minute at 62 percent accuracy — numbers that reflect a punishing, high-output style. According to the report, Poatan has suggested he is now afraid to return to competition following his last outing and may feel he has already achieved enough in the sport.
Garry, in unverified comments, reportedly pledged to defend the welterweight title far more frequently than Islam Makhachev should he ever hold the belt. Makhachev, 34, carries a 28-1-0 record and is currently listed as welterweight champion in the AgentMMA database. The Russian southpaw from Eagles MMA averages 3.2 takedowns per 15 minutes and lands strikes at 58 percent accuracy. The report notes his next title defense may not arrive until July 2027, roughly a year between fights — a pace Garry singled out for criticism.
Why it matters
- Pereira's retirement hints, if confirmed, would immediately open up the light heavyweight title picture and reshape the division
- Garry's comments add pressure to the welterweight landscape regardless of his current standing
- The UFC's AI rankings placed Jan Blachowicz, 43, at No. 15 in light heavyweight — a significant drop from his No. 4 media ranking position and his No. 5 verified divisional ranking, signaling the new system may weight criteria very differently from traditional press polls
