Alex Pereira (image via UFC/YouTube)

By FCF Staff

Since Alex Pereira moved up to the UFC’s light-heavyweight division, there’s been ongoing speculation as to whether the decorated fighter could return to 185 pounds for another shot at the title. But it looks like Pereira has closed that chapter of his career.

Following Pereira’s knockout loss to Israel Adesanya this past April, he moved up a division and has since recorded a split decision victory over Jan Blachowicz. Pereira is expected to fight former light-heavyweight champ Jiri Prochazka for the vacant belt later this year.

Previously, Pereira never said he wouldn’t return to middleweight and noted he may do so to fight Israel Adesanya one more time. But, following Adesanya’s shocking loss to Sean Strickland this past weekend at UFC 293, “Poatan” shared out this comment via social media.

“Seems like my plans to go down one more time to middleweight ran out…”

Seems like my plans to go down one more time to Middleweight ran out…

— Alex "Poatan" Pereira (@AlexPereiraUFC) September 10, 2023

The 36-year-old Pereira holds three wins over Adesanya: two in kickboxing and last November, he knocked the now former champ out at UFC 281.

Since Pereira also holds a knockout win over Strickland, there was some speculation about whether Pereira might pursue that rematch as well. But, it looks like that will not be the case.