Alex Pereira hinted at possible retirement following his recent cage appearance, saying he is now fearful of returning to competition and believes he has already accomplished everything he set out to do. Ian Garry pledged to be a more active welterweight champion than Islam Makhachev, who typically defends once per year, claiming the division will see more high-level action once he holds the belt. The UFC also unveiled new AI-generated rankings, which place Jiri Prochazka 15th in the light heavyweight division compared to fourth in traditional media rankings.
Alex Pereira has raised the possibility of walking away from mixed martial arts, with the light heavyweight champion expressing reluctance to compete again after his most recent cage appearance. The 38-year-old Brazilian told his audience he is now fearful of returning and believes he has already achieved everything he set out to accomplish in the sport.
Pereira, who fights out of Teixeira MMA and Fitness, carries a 13-4 record and currently holds the light heavyweight title. Standing six-foot-four with a 79-inch reach, he has been one of the division's most dangerous finishers, landing 5.16 significant strikes per minute at a 62 percent accuracy rate — among the highest in the weight class.
Meanwhile, welterweight contender Ian Garry made a bold prediction regarding the 170-pound title picture, vowing to defend the belt more frequently than current pound-for-pound king Islam Makhachev, who has averaged roughly one title defense per year. Garry argued the welterweight division would see a higher level of activity once he holds the championship.
Makhachev, 34, reigns as welterweight champion with a 28-1 record and is widely regarded as the top fighter on the planet. The Russian southpaw operates out of Eagles MMA and blends elite grappling — 3.2 takedowns per 15 minutes and 1.1 submission attempts per 15 minutes — with 58 percent striking accuracy.
The UFC also drew attention this week by unveiling a new AI-generated rankings system. The product placed Jiri Prochazka 15th in the light heavyweight division, a stark contrast to his fourth-place standing in traditional media polls. Prochazka, 33, holds a 32-6-1 record and is currently ranked second in the division according to AgentMMA data. The Czech fighter lands an aggressive 5.69 significant strikes per minute with a 55 percent accuracy rate and boasts an 80-inch reach.
Why it matters
- Pereira's retirement hints create immediate uncertainty around the light heavyweight title picture
- Garry's champion-or-not pledge raises expectations but sets a public benchmark he will be held to
- The AI rankings gap on Prochazka highlights questions about methodology and credibility of the new UFC system
