Alex Pereira shocks fans with ‘out of shape’ physique months out from heavyweight debut at UFC White House

Alex Pereira’s latest physique has caused quite a stir in the MMA world two months out from his heavyweight debut.

The former middleweight and light heavyweight champion is seeking to make history at UFC White House on June 14 when he fights Ciryl Gane.

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Should Pereira defeat Gane in the co-main event of the card, officially called UFC Freedom 250, the Brazilian will be the first-ever fighter to win gold across three divisions in Dana White‘s promotion.

And if he comes out unscathed, ‘Poatan’ would then get the chance to make the interim heavyweight title an undisputed belt in a unification bout against current champion Tom Aspinall.

Pereira’s weight has been the talk of the town since he made his UFC debut in November 2021, given that he used to cut down to 185lbs to fight at middleweight.

In February, the 38-year-old stunned fans when he tipped the scales at a whopping 242.5lbs.

So it’s not surprising the Brazilian’s latest update has had quite the reaction.

Pereira took to Instagram this week and revealed his current physique through a series of promotional images.

“Heavyweight,” he captioned the post that has got all MMA fans talking.

MMA fans react to Pereira’s latest physique

Responding to the post, fans had quite a mixed reaction.

One wrote: “Too much weight for his body.”

Another said: “Is it just me, and tell me if I’m tripping, but don’t he look like he’s hella overweight?”

Instagram @alexpoatanpereira

Instagram @alexpoatanpereira

While a third added: “I don’t like him at heavyweight lol looks really out of shape.”

However, others hit back at those claiming Pereira was out of shape, highlighting that the Brazilian has plenty of time to lean down.

One fan responded: “Alex Pereira is not quite in heavyweight shape, but he will be by the time he cooks Gane in June.”

A second said: “We all notice it, but we still have two months until fight night.”

Another added: “It’s not a bodybuilding aesthetics competition is what people need to understand. I think he beats Gane.”

While a fourth wrote: “If you compare with other heavyweights, he is not in that bad of a shape.”

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Only time will tell if Pereira has what it takes to make UFC history on the grandest stage of them all.

‘Poatan’ has suffered just two defeats in the UFC, reclaiming the belt at 205lbs last time out with a first-round KO over Magomed Ankalaev.

Gane, meanwhile, fought Aspinall to a no-contest last October at UFC 321, and the Frenchman has since been labelled a ‘cheat’ by the heavyweight champion due to his nasty eye pokes.

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