​Alex Pereira has not booked his next UFC bout yet after his bid to claim the interim heavyweight title fell short in June, and he is targeting a return on the still-to-be-announced November card at Madison Square Garden in New York. “I think November. November is a good time [to come back and fight] in New York,” Pereira told Ag. Fight. “It’s been a while since I fought there. I don’t really remember the dates, it’s hard. My debut was there, but I’ve fought there a few more times since then. … It’s close to my house, about an hour and a half drive. So there’s no [travel] fatigue or jet lag.”
The Brazilian star known as Poatan recently endured a knockout loss to Ciryl Gane in the co-main event at UFC White House on June 14, a result he has publicly disputed due to illegal strikes delivered by the French fighter that, in his view, were allowed by referee Herb Dean. Despite his objections, Pereira has decided not to file an official appeal with the athletic commission. He has also ruled out a return to light heavyweight and plans to continue competing at heavyweight moving forward.
Pereira has a strong history at Madison Square Garden, where he has secured three impressive wins across three appearances. He began his MSG run with a victory over Andreas Michailidis via a flying knee in his UFC debut at the venue in 2021. A year later, he returned to MSG and defeated Israel Adesanya to capture the middleweight championship. In November 2023, Pereira captured the light heavyweight title with a knockout of Jiri Prochazka, marking another memorable performance in the Big Apple.
As he looks ahead to potential November action at MSG, Pereira’s team is aiming to capitalize on a familiar setting that has historically brought out the best in him. The enthusiasm around a possible homecoming in New York is high among fans who witnessed his rapid ascent through the UFC ranks, including his dramatic middleweight title win and his ongoing discipline at heavyweight. With the plan to keep fighting at heavyweight, Pereira emphasizes that a return to the octagon in New York would not only recapture the energy of his prior MSG appearances but also position him for a significant push toward reclaiming gold in the heavyweight division.
Pereira, who remains one of the sport’s most dynamic and dangerous strikers, is focused on stabilizing his next steps after the June setback. Although the outcome of his appeal remains unresolved in the public domain, he is clear about continuing his pursuit of championships at heavyweight. The November card at Madison Square Garden would provide a prime stage for Pereira to reinsert himself into the title picture, leveraging the momentum from his previous MSG showings and the fervent support of fans in one of the UFC’s most iconic arenas. As discussions around the schedule for the November event proceed, anticipation is building for a potential blockbuster return for Poatan in New York.