Alex Pereira has publicly expressed his outrage over the UFC's decision to release Michel Pereira. The light heavyweight champion warned fellow fighters that staying silent on such issues leaves them without support if they face a similar situation. Pereira criticized the promotion, stating that MMA as a sport continues to suffer because of how such matters are handled.
UFC light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira went public on July 15 with sharp criticism of the promotion's decision to cut Michel Pereira from the roster, calling the move unjust and urging fighters not to stay silent when their peers are treated unfairly.
Alex Pereira, 39, carries a 13-4 record and holds the light heavyweight title representing Brazil out of Teixeira MMA and Fitness. Standing six-foot-four with a 79-inch reach, "Poatan" is one of the most dangerous strikers in the sport, landing 5.16 significant strikes per minute at a 62 percent accuracy rate. His message was pointed: fighters who remain quiet when a colleague is released have no one to turn to if the same thing happens to them. He framed the issue as broader than one individual, arguing that MMA as a sport is damaged when such decisions go unchallenged.
Michel Pereira, 32, holds a 32-15 record and was ranked 15th in the middleweight division at the time of his release. Fighting out of Overcome Academy, the Brazilian orthodox striker stands six-foot-one with a 73-inch reach. Known for his explosive, unorthodox style, "Demolidor" averaged 4.46 significant strikes per minute and posted a 51 percent striking accuracy, while also mixing in 1.21 takedowns per 15 minutes.
Why it matters
- The public criticism from a reigning UFC champion directed at the promotion's roster decisions is unusual and carries significant weight inside the sport.
- Michel Pereira's release despite holding a ranked position at middleweight raises questions about how the UFC evaluates fighters on the bubble.
- Alex Pereira's call for collective action could galvanize other fighters to speak more openly about contractual and employment concerns.
