Alex Pereira’s stock keeps growing exponentially. Call it shamanic magic or otherwise; there’s no denying that Brazil’s ‘Poatan’ is no fluke. He made a second defense at light heavyweight, shutting the lights out on Jiri Prochazka in the main event of UFC 303. Pereira is always humble about his wins, but now he seemingly has certain demands.
Ahead of the International Fight Week event, MMA Junkie’s Mike Bohn had asked if Dana White would maintain the increased bonuses. Featherweight Brian Ortega had even proposed a thematic bonus increase to $303,000. White compromised with a second $50,000 Fight of the Night Bonus. But it turns out Ortega’s proposal came true for Pereira. He had some plans with that.
I think because of all their history and taking the fight on two weeks’ [notice], Dana looked at him and said, ‘You’ve got the $303,000.’…even joked, said buy a supercar with that money. [Poatan] goes, ‘I’ve got enough supercars.’ He wants a Cybertruck.
Plinio Cruz via The MMA Hour
Veteran coach Plinio Cruz, as well as Alex Pereira’s translator, said the fighter was a little upset. After all, he did not get a $300,000 Performance of the Night Bonus at UFC 300. The Brazilian star made short work of Jamahal Hill, starching him with a shovel hook in R1 of the April PPV Event. Saving the card again on short notice at UFC 303, White backtracked and promised him a secret $303,000 bonus.
🚨| Plinio Cruz has revealed that Alex Pereira managed to convince Dana White backstage to give him a $303k bonus after his #UFC303 knockout over Jiri Prochazka. 💰
He says Pereira told Dana that he has enough supercars now but he would like a cyber truck. 🤣
[per The MMA Hour] pic.twitter.com/1xmFfEaipf
— MMA Orbit (@mma_orbit) July 1, 2024
It’s a far cry from the set-in-stone $50k POTN Bonus; some fans think Pereira deserves more. $303,000 translates to a signing bonus for an NFL draft. With his eagerness to pitch in and his unpredictably powerful performances, Pereira has the playing field. As a matter of fact, Pereira and the team also have a particular choice of opponent.
Who should Alex Pereira fight next: Fans open up social poll, Team Pereira answers
Alex ‘Poatan’ Pereria is the gift that keeps on giving. In just seven months, he has raised the bar with multiple titles and defenses. UFC 303’s pay-per-view card had a remarkable amount of withdrawals and razor-thin pairings. Nevertheless, the 36-year-old ended up refining the top bill well enough to make for a spot among the top 4 highest-selling UFC live gates.
Alex Pereira vs. Jan Blachowicz could be the match to make (Source: heavy.com/UFC.go.com)Pereira (11-2 MMA, 8-1 UFC) notched his second title defense in Saturday’s UFC 303 headliner at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. After which, he is a hot topic in the matchmaker’s shoes. Magomed Ankalaev is confident he can also shock Pereira, skill-to-skill. Additionally, 265-pound standouts Tom Aspinall and Jon Jones are also in the running, but Team Pereira drew Jan Blachowicz out of the mix.
I’ve never lost a rematch. And I won’t 👊🏻👊🏻
— Jan Blachowicz (@JanBlachowicz) July 2, 2024
Pereira’s manager, Jorge Guimarães, took notice of a matchmaking poll on Instagram. Instead of the surging Ankalaev, the winner of Jon Jones vs. Stipe Miocic, or Aspinall vs. Curtis Blaydes, he opted for Jan Blachowicz.
The Polish from Berkut WCA Fight Team last faced him at UFC 291: Poirier vs. Gaethje 2, live from The Delta Center, Utah. With UFC 307 reportedly headed for the same spot, the rematch could be one for ages if that’s what the UFC wants.
Jan Blachowicz also remains the only one ‘Poatan’ didn’t thoroughly knockout yet. So there’s an interesting dynamic there between the orthodox powerhouses. Moreover, should Blachowicz win instead, he’d become the oldest titleholder [41] on the active roster. The stakes on this one would be piping hot.
