After a rollercoaster week filled with confusion, fear, and plenty of internet drama, it appears like things are beginning to calm down in Alex Pereira‘s world, at least on the surface. The former UFC light heavyweight champion became the subject of controversy after a weird and passionate statement appeared on his X (previously Twitter) account, implying retirement and dissatisfaction with the UFC. Fans were left wondering if one of the most dominant fighters in recent years was actually retiring from the sport. And now, UFC CEO Dana White appears to have quietly stepped in, making his first move following the chaos.
That move? A fan appearance, but with a deeper purpose. UFC Canada has confirmed that ‘Poatan’ will participate in an official Meet & Greet event in Montreal on Thursday, May 8. “Chama! Don’t miss your chance to meet @AlexPoatanPereira!” the Instagram caption stated, indicating that the UFC still wants Alex Pereira to be the focal point of UFC 315 fight week. The meet and greet will take place from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at MVP Resto-Bar Sportif, 200 St. Catherine St. E. While it is not a fight announcement or a press conference, it conveys a clear message: Pereira is still a valuable name and remains a part of the picture.
For the unaware who are absolutely confused by now, the drama began earlier this month, when a tweet from Pereira’s account shocked the MMA community. “I’ve already had thoughts of not fighting anymore,” he said, stating he was “disheartened” by what he had recently heard. It didn’t take long for fans and experts to speculate about Pereira’s souring relationship with the UFC, particularly following his March loss to Magomed Ankalaev. But Alex Pereira quickly cleared the air on Instagram, publishing a video in Portuguese claiming his X account had been hacked. “I didn’t even know about it… I have a great relationship with the UFC,” he told his fans, adding that people “like to do bad things.” But who hacked his account in the first place?
Well, things became even uglier when Magomed Ankalaev jumped in, alleging he was the one who hacked Pereira’s account and used it to challenge him to a rematch. Whether it was a joke or not, it just added fuel to an already flaming rivalry. ‘Poatan,’ who was once in talks for a quick rematch in August, is now stuck in this bizarre social media drama. While his appearance in Montreal does not confirm anything about his fight status, it does keep him in the spotlight during a key pay-per-view week. And, given how quickly things change in the UFC, no one would be surprised if this meet & greet was just the beginning of something bigger. But one thing is certain: the Brazilian remains a loved figure in the MMA community. So much so that when his supposed retirement was announced on X by the hacker, it drew some major support. A major voice among those was that of Jake Paul.
Jake Paul speaks out in support of Alex Pereira
With Alex Pereira’s hacked tweet causing a fuss and Dana White’s covert plan to reintroduce him into the UFC spotlight, the MMA world reacted quickly. But, among the din, one voice stood out: Jake Paul. The YouTuber-turned-boxer has never missed an opportunity to question the UFC’s structure, so when the Brazilian’s apparent frustrations went viral, ‘The Problem Child’ didn’t hesitate at all. Even though the post was eventually discarded as the result of a hack, Paul found the ideal opportunity to return to his favorite soapbox: attacking Dana White.
He came out swinging, posting a now-deleted tweet praising Pereira as the UFC’s “savior,” noting that ‘Poatan’ had stepped up four times in 11 months at the top level. ‘The Problem Child’ was more concerned with exposing what he saw as Dana White’s exploitation of fighters than with Pereira’s alleged retirement. He wrote, “Alex Pereira been the UFC savior time and time again. Fought 4 times in 11 months at the championship level on PPV. Always has my respect.” The timing could not have been better for him. This was yet another opportunity to retaliate against the UFC, portray himself as the voice of the underpaid and overworked, and remind everyone of his long-standing feud with White. And, while his comments were deleted when Pereira addressed the hack, the moment wasn’t lost — fans had already seen where Jake Paul stood. Interestingly, the Disney star who is now speaking in favor of the Brazilian has previously targeted Alex Pereira.
Last year, in true Jake Paul form, he challenged the Brazilian to a boxing fight, stating he could beat him “one thousand percent.” As expected, ‘Poatan’ dismissed the suggestion at the time, claiming that he was still under contract with the UFC and couldn’t consider it. But that didn’t stop ‘The Problem Child’ from repeating the callout—even after bouts, in interviews, and when no one asked. So, when the drama erupted this week, it was no surprise to see him return, rallying around Alex Pereira but still pushing his own story. Because in Paul’s world, every dispute is a potential spotlight — and this one was too good to pass up. What do you think? Do you believe Pereira is happy with the UFC management? Let us know in the comments.
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