Alex Pereira has suggested he may be considering retirement, stating he is now fearful of returning to competition following what happened inside the cage and that he feels he has already accomplished what he set out to do. Ian Garry, meanwhile, pledged that once he becomes welterweight champion he will defend the title more frequently than Islam Makhachev, who he noted fights only once a year with his next defense potentially not coming until July 2027. Also at the recent Fight Night card, Leon Shahbazyan's brother Edmen suffered a highlight-reel loss at the 23-second mark, undefeated Kyrgyz fighter Murtazali Magomedov made a successful UFC debut, and Roman Kuchelyaba was beaten decisively by undefeated Navajo Stirling.
Alex Pereira has opened the door to retirement, saying he feels fear about returning to competition following recent events inside the cage and believes he has already achieved what he set out to accomplish in the sport. The comments mark a significant shift in tone from one of the UFC's most decorated recent champions.
Ian Garry used the moment to draw a contrast with the welterweight landscape, pledging that once he captures the welterweight title he will defend it far more often than Islam Makhachev. Garry pointed to the Russian champion's pace of competition, noting that Makhachev's next defense may not arrive until July 2027. Makhachev, 34, holds a 28-1-0 record and currently ranks as the pound-for-pound number-one fighter in the world. The southpaw from Russia trains with Eagles MMA and connects on 58 percent of his significant strikes while averaging 3.2 takedowns per 15 minutes.
The recent Fight Night card also produced several notable results. Edmen Shahbazyan, brother of Leon, was stopped in highlight-reel fashion at just 23 seconds. Leon, a 30-year-old American standing six-foot-four with a 74-inch reach, carries a 12-5-0 record and is known for his striking output of 6.1 significant strikes per minute. The loss extends a difficult stretch for the Glendale Fighting Club product.
Undefeated Kyrgyz fighter Murtazali Magomedov made a winning UFC debut on the same card, adding his name to the list of prospects to watch in the coming months.
Roman Kuchelyaba suffered a decisive defeat at the hands of Navajo Stirling, who remains unbeaten at 10-0-0. The 28-year-old New Zealander out of City Kickboxing stands six-foot-four with a massive 79-inch reach and lands 6.24 significant strikes per minute at 54 percent accuracy.
Why it matters
- Pereira's retirement hints create immediate uncertainty at the top of his division
- Garry's public promise raises the stakes of his welterweight title pursuit
- Stirling's dominant debut win strengthens City Kickboxing's growing UFC roster
