Alex Pereira has hinted at a possible retirement, saying he is now fearful of returning to the cage after what happened and believes he has already done his part. Meanwhile, Ian Garry promised that when he becomes welterweight champion he will be significantly more active than Islam Makhachev, who he says defends the title only once a year with his next defense potentially not coming until July 2027. UFC also launched its new AI-powered rankings, which produced notable differences from the traditional media rankings — for example, placing Jiri Prochazka 15th in light heavyweight rather than his current fourth-place media ranking. At a recent Fight Night card, Murtazali Magomedov made a successful UFC debut, Navajo Stirling delivered a dominant performance over Roman Kopylov, and Leon Shahbazyan's brother Edmen suffered a stoppage loss in 23 seconds via calf kicks.
Alex Pereira has publicly hinted at stepping away from mixed martial arts, while welterweight contender Ian Garry has made bold promises about championship activity should he capture UFC gold. The comments emerged amid a busy news cycle that also included a notable UFC debut, a dominant midcard performance, and the launch of the promotion's new AI-powered rankings system.
Pereira, a former UFC light heavyweight and middleweight champion, expressed that he now feels fearful about returning to the cage, suggesting he believes he has already contributed what he set out to accomplish in the sport. The Brazilian has not put a formal retirement on record, but his language carried a tone of finality that will intensify speculation around his future.
Garry directed his attention at current welterweight champion Islam Makhachev, arguing that Makhachev defends his title only once a year and that his next defense may not arrive until July 2027. Garry vowed to be far more active if he ascends to the welterweight throne. Makhachev, 34, holds a 28-1 record and is the reigning pound-for-pound number-one fighter in the promotion. The Russian averages 3.2 takedowns per 15 minutes and connects at 58 percent striking accuracy, making him one of the most technically complete champions in the sport.
The UFC also unveiled an AI-driven rankings system that produced some striking divergences from traditional media polls. Most notably, Jiri Prochazka was placed 15th in the light heavyweight division by the new model, a significant drop from his fourth-place standing in conventional media rankings. Prochazka, 33, carries a 32-6-1 record and is ranked second in the division per verified data. The Czech fighter out of Jetsaam Gym Brno stands six-foot-three with an 80-inch reach and lands 5.69 significant strikes per minute at 55 percent accuracy.
Why it matters
- Pereira's retirement hints create immediate uncertainty at the top of the light heavyweight division
- Garry's public criticism of Makhachev's title defense frequency sets up a rivalry narrative heading into a potential welterweight title shot
- The UFC's AI rankings diverging sharply from media consensus raises questions about how the promotion may use the system for matchmaking and seeding
Roman Kopylov, 34, fell to a dominant showing from Navajo Stirling at the recent Fight Night card. Kopylov carries a 15-5 record and competes at middleweight, where he is currently ranked 14th. Edmen Shahbazyan, brother of welterweight prospect Leon Shahbazyan, suffered a rapid stoppage loss in just 23 seconds via calf kicks, while Murtazali Magomedov opened his UFC account with a successful debut performance.
