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UFC analyst explains why Alex Pereira is the ‘exception’ to rule that older fighters can’t regain titles

Originally posted on Bloody Elbow | By Curtis Calhoun | Last updated Jul 9, 2025 9:46 PM ET

Former UFC light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira is still in his fighting prime, according to one analyst.

Alex Pereira could potentially return to the Octagon later this year as he looks to regain the UFC light heavyweight title. Pereira lost to Magomed Ankalaev by unanimous decision at UFC 313 despite stopping all of Ankalaev’s takedown attempts.

Pereira, one of the top pound-for-pound fighters in MMA, recently turned 38 years old. Only a handful of UFC legends have been able to earn a world title as they approach age 40.

But one analyst believes Pereira is the exception to the rule.

Din Thomas believes Alex Pereira remains in his prime despite turning 38

In a recent segment on Daniel Cormier‘s YouTube channel, UFC analyst Din Thomas explained why he isn’t losing hope in Pereira earning another UFC title at age 38.

“There’s no one in MMA harder on older fighters than I am. I’ve said things about Kamaru Usman, and all these other guys as you get older, ‘It’s too late for them’. But I think Alex Pereira is the exception in this case, for a couple reasons,” Thomas began on Pereira.

“First off, I think he’s got a style that actually helps him in terms of his age. He doesn’t move his feet a lot, doesn’t wrestle a lot, and he’s just got power that guys run into. So he’s not putting a lot of wear and tear on his body in training, and he’s definitely not putting wear and tear on his body in fights. Secondly, he’s in one of the Top 3 worst divisions in the UFC, which means that all he’s gotta do is probably not even fight again, he should probably get an immediate rematch.

“There’s no one else in the division that warrants a fight against Magomed Ankalaev,” Thomas continued. “So Alex Pereira, even at 38, still can go out there and win a championship and still probably defend it three more times.”

Before losing to Ankalaev at UFC 313, Pereira defended the UFC light heavyweight belt against Jamahal Hill, Khalil Rountree, and Jiri Prochazka. Some have speculated that Pereira could potentially be Tom Aspinall’s first opponent of his undisputed heavyweight title reign later this year.

But Pereira has Ankalaev on his mind as he begins his path to revenge.

Magomed Ankalaev vs. Alex Pereira 2 remains a mystery after ‘agreeing’ to rematch

Ankalaev and Pereira verbally agreed to run it back almost immediately after UFC 313. But in the months since their fight, things have taken a bizarre turn as Ankalaev has accused Pereira of turning down several fight offers.

Pereira insists he remains on target to return to the cage later this year, despite brief retirement speculation. Prochazka has also traded barbs with Ankalaev in recent months, leading to a potential clash between the two top light heavyweights.

An announcement regarding Ankalaev and Pereira’s next fights could be made in the coming weeks.