The MMA world was rocked by a cryptic tweet from former two-division UFC champion Alex Pereira’s X account, hinting at strained relations with the UFC and suggesting he was considering retirement.

The post quickly went viral, igniting speculation among fans and pundits about a possible rift between Pereira and the promotion, and whether the Brazilian superstar was truly contemplating walking away from the sport.

The reaction was immediate and intense. Social media exploded with concern for Pereira’s future, and many in the MMA community expressed support for the former champion. Given Pereira’s meteoric rise-holding both the middleweight and light heavyweight titles, with a reputation for stepping up on short notice, his apparent disillusionment with the UFC was met with shock and disappointment.

Adding fuel to the fire, Pereira’s recent loss to Magomed Ankalaev at UFC 313 had already raised questions about his next move. Ankalaev, now the reigning light heavyweight champion, had been publicly goading Pereira for a rematch, and negotiations for a second showdown were reportedly underway.

Pereira Responds: “I Was Hacked”

Just hours after the tweet caused a frenzy, Pereira took to Instagram to set the record straight. In a video message, he explained that he had been hacked and was unaware of the tweet until fans began messaging him:

“Well everyone, I’ve received a ton of messages, getting messages from everyone who saw a post from my Twitter. I didn't even know about it; I was hacked. It’s been a while since I been posted anything, you guys see, but I was hacked and I'll resolve it. I don't even know what’s going on. I have a great relationship with the UFC, people just like to do bad things that's that, Chama.”

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Pereira reiterated that his relationship with the UFC is strong and that he has no intention of retiring or criticizing the promotion. He emphasized that he had not posted anything negative and that the message did not reflect his views or intentions.

A Look Back: Pereira’s UFC Journey

Since joining the UFC in 2021, Alex Pereira has quickly become one of the sport’s most electrifying figures. He dethroned Israel Adesanya to claim the middleweight title, then moved up to light heavyweight, capturing the belt from Jiri Prochazka in just his second fight at 205 pounds. Pereira’s aggressive fighting style and willingness to take on big challenges-such as headlining UFC 300 and UFC 303 in quick succession, have made him a fan favorite and a reliable main eventer.

His loss to Ankalaev at UFC 313 marked his first defeat at light heavyweight, but talks of an immediate rematch have kept his name at the forefront of title discussions. There were even rumors of potential superfights with heavyweight champion Jon Jones and middleweight king Dricus du Plessis.

What’s Next for Alex Pereira and the UFC?

With the hacking incident resolved and Pereira’s relationship with the UFC apparently intact, attention now turns to his fighting future. Ankalaev has continued to push for a rematch, and fans are eager to see if Pereira can reclaim the light heavyweight crown.

Despite the brief social media scare, Pereira’s status as one of the UFC’s biggest stars remains unchanged. His clarification has reassured fans and the promotion alike that he’s not ready to walk away just yet. As the dust settles, the MMA community can breathe a sigh of relief, Alex Pereira isn’t going anywhere, and the light heavyweight division remains as exciting as ever.