​Former UFC light heavyweight and middleweight champion Alex Pereira has disclosed his target return date for his next outing. The Brazilian star last stepped into the Octagon at UFC Freedom 250 on June 14, where he suffered a second-round TKO at the hands of Ciryl Gane. The loss ended Pereira’s bid to become the interim UFC heavyweight champion and would have made him the first fighter to hold titles in three divisions within the UFC. In the wake of that defeat, Pereira has been outspoken about what he viewed as referee Herb Dean’s subpar performance during the bout, arguing that Dean missed several illegal strikes by Gane that contributed to Pereira’s finish. Now, with that matchup behind him, Pereira understands that to chase the heavyweight title, he must return to action and stay active.
Pereira has made clear that he hopes to fight again before the end of the year. In an interview with Shakiel Mahjouri of Paramount Canada, he revealed his plan to come back in November at heavyweight. November is traditionally a marquee month for UFC events at Madison Square Garden in New York City, and Pereira hinted that he would likely be featured on that card, potentially in a co-main event slot beneath a title clash.
“BREAKING | Alex Pereira tells me he’s deadset on a November return at heavyweight,” Mahjouri noted. When analysts examine the UFC rankings, Pereira—ranked No. 4 at heavyweight—appears to be aligned for a showdown with No. 5-ranked Josh Hokit. The two fighters have long carried a tense rivalry, and both men rode into UFC Freedom 250 recently, signaling they are on parallel schedules in terms of activity. The timing suggests a Pereira-Hokit matchup at Madison Square Garden in November could function as a heavyweight title eliminator, potentially setting the stage for a future title shot.
There is speculation that Pereira vs. Hokit could serve as the co-main event on a card led by a heavyweight title unification bout between Tom Aspinall and Ciryl Gane. While nothing is set in stone, the pairing between Pereira and Hokit appears to be the most logical and marketable option for the UFC, given their recent competition history and public animosity.
As always, fans will have to wait for official UFC announcements to confirm matchups and event structure. If Pereira does return in November as planned, the fight would mark his first appearance since his loss to Gane and would represent a pivotal step in his pursuit of heavyweight supremacy. Pereira’s declared intent to return before year’s end underscores his commitment to reclaiming a place at the summit of the heavyweight division, and his camp has signaled a clear appetite for a quick, high-stakes path back to the title picture. Whether the UFC matches him with Hokit or another top contender, a November showdown at Madison Square Garden would undoubtedly attract significant attention from fans and pundits alike.