On an episode of the The Ariel Helwani Show, released on Monday, March 16, UFC star Alex Pereira confirmed a new eight-fight deal with the UFC.
The news puts rumours of his potential departure away from the company to rest after the conclusion of his current contract.
Pereira assured Ariel Helwani that he and the UFC are on good terms, despite the ongoing discussions surrounding the company’s treatment of their star fighters.
Pereira: ‘They take good care of me’
“They took really good care of me,” Pereira said, regarding the UFC higher-ups. “The contract was so good that I let it open for them to do whatever they want.”
With the Brazilian set for a longer-term stay with the company, he commented on whether he’d remain in the heavyweight division after recently vacating his light heavyweight belt.
“I’ve been expressing for a long time that I have been wanting to fight at heavyweight,” he added. “So I’ll probably stay around there.”
Jones fight unlikely
Many surmised that the two’s immediate futures would collide at the centre of the octagon, but Pereira seemed settled with the notion that he and Jon Jones may never fight.
Pereira’s willingness to compete against one of the sport’s best-ever stars is something fans are delighted with, but with Jones’ relationship with the UFC no longer on good terms, the Brazilian will have to look elsewhere to add to his illustrious resume.
Although Jones confirmed that he was “in negotiations” with the UFC to fight Pereira, the former two-time light heavyweight champ said the fight was never truly in motion.
MORE MMA NEWS: MMA news: UFC announces Khamzat Chimaev v Sean Strickland to headline UFC 328
What lies ahead
Pereira will clash with Frenchman Cyril Gane at heavyweight for the interim title at the UFC White House event – UFC Freedom Fights 250.
Current heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall remains on ice after sustaining a drastic eye injury at the hands of Gane at UFC 321.
Should Pereira defeat Gane, he’d likely move on to fight a fully healed Aspinall towards the end of the year and attempt to become the UFC’s first-ever three-division champion.
READ NEXT: MMA news: ‘I’ll choke him out in the second round’ says Arman Tsarukyan on Justin Gaethje
Nicole Powell 
SportJustSport writers