“I am definitely going to box,” Pereira said on the Connect Cast podcast, via MMA Mania. “Look, I made it clear that I want to fight boxing. Same thing, right? When I got into kickboxing, they didn’t believe me. MMA, same thing. Boxing, they’ll say the same thing. But I’m used to it, I don’t care. I just want to go out there and fight. It’s not about aiming for more money. I like a challenge. I want to be the best.”<\/p>\n
Pereira noted that he first wants to wrap up his UFC career with a few more legacy fights. Despite reigning over the 205-pound division, Pereira appears intent on a move to heavyweight, naming Jon Jones as his ideal next opponent.<\/p>\n
Pereira is fresh off a first-round TKO victory over Magomed Ankalaev at UFC 320, a win that allowed him to reclaim the UFC light heavyweight title. The Brazilian star is now 13-4 in MMA, with half his career spent in UFC title fights.<\/p>\n
Before he transitioned to MMA, Pereira compiled a 33-7 record in kickboxing, ending his career as a two-division GLORY Kickboxing world champion. He collected notable wins over Israel Adesanya, Artem Vakhitov, Ertugrul Bayrak, Cesar Almeida and Yousri Belgaroui before departing for the UFC.<\/p>\n
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Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images<\/p>\n
Making another transition at this point in his career will be difficult, but Pereira has already conquered two sports. Few believed that he would even make a dent in the UFC when he made his debut as a 34-year-old, but he has gone on to carve out one of the greatest careers in the sport’s history.<\/p>\n
Pereira’s name has already crossed over into boxing, with Jake Paul calling him out<\/a> after his win over Mike Perry, and Oleksandr Usyk suggesting a potential crossover bout. Usyk and Paul are arguably the two biggest fights he could potentially obtain in boxing, so he is already off to a good start without even dipping his toes into the pool.<\/p>\n At 38, it would be nearly impossible for anyone to begin a championship-level boxing career, even an athlete as accomplished as Pereira. However, Francis Ngannou has paved the way for MMA superstars to potentially secure a few lucrative bouts in marquee crossover events at the tail end of their careers.<\/p>\n The Latest Boxing News<\/p>\n UFC Superstar Set On Boxing Transition After MMA Career Ends: “Look, I Made It Clear”<\/a><\/p>\n Fans Call Out Turki Alalshikh For David Benavidez vs Anthony Yarde PPV U-Turn<\/a><\/p>\n Laila Ali Exposes \u2018Malicious\u2019 Clarissa Shields Amid Fight Callout<\/a><\/p>\n