Alex Pereira’s reign as UFC Light Heavyweight Champion came to an abrupt end at UFC 313, where he suffered a unanimous decision loss to Magomed Ankalaev. While many credit Ankalaev’s game plan for the victory, former two-division UFC champion Henry Cejudo believes that Pereira’s lifestyle choices may have played a role in his downfall.
Speaking on the podcast “Pound For Pound w/Kamaru and Henry,” Cejudo suggested that Pereira’s frequent traveling, social media presence, and outside commitments could be catching up to him.
“I think Alex Pereira’s lifestyle is finally kind of catching up to him,” Cejudo said. “The travel, the ‘Chama,’ all the skits and distractions—it’s really not doing him any favors. His body looked different this time, a little pudgier, thicker in the face.”
Cejudo also pointed out Pereira’s struggle against southpaws and credited Ankalaev for his composure and tight defense, which frustrated the Brazilian throughout the fight.
Despite the loss, both Pereira and Ankalaev have expressed interest in a rematch, and UFC CEO Dana White has hinted that it could happen soon. This marks Pereira’s first decision loss in the UFC and his third overall defeat in MMA.
Ex-Girlfriend Celebrates Alex Pereira’s Defeat
While most of Pereira’s fans were disappointed with his loss, one person seemed to enjoy it—his ex-girlfriend, Merle Christine.
Christine, who dated Pereira for nearly four years, took to Instagram after UFC 313 to mock her former partner. She posted:
“We have a new light heavyweight champion … no more Chama. Karma.”
She even pointed out that Pereira’s loss happened on International Women’s Day, calling it “a sign.”
Leading up to the fight, Christine had predicted Ankalaev’s victory in a YouTube video. After the fight, she dismissed any claims of robbery, stating:
“If you think Pereira was robbed, you don’t understand MMA. Ankalaev clearly won. He deserved this title shot a long time ago, and now he finally got it.”
Pereira, never one to stay quiet, fired back with a tweet:
“I think she should stop mentioning my name, cause her husband might get jealous. Chama.”
Christine later responded, brushing off the controversy:
“Don’t take life too seriously. I joke around a lot, but the better man won, and that’s it.”
Despite the outside drama, Pereira remains focused on bouncing back. He has already vowed to improve his game and come back stronger, making a potential rematch with Ankalaev one of the most anticipated fights in the division.
