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A 19-year-old Brazilian fighter with the same surname as one of UFC's biggest stars was signed to the promotion on an unexpected video call. Elsewhere, fans tried to burst Islam Makhachev's bubble about a middleweight move.
Here are today's top combat sports updates, presented by Sportskeeda MMA's News Roundup.
UFC signs 19-year-old Alice Pereira
After winning her sixth fight in a row on Dec. 14, Brazil's Alice Pereira sent a message to UFC matchmaker Mick Maynard asking to be signed to the promotion.
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Her skills and resume seemed to have impressed the powers that be, as she received a video call from Maynard within days, telling her she was getting signed by the UFC. The 19-year-old was overcome with emotion getting the happy news, that too so close to Christmas.
Fans on MMA social media have already gone on a spiral about her, with some labeling her the 'female Alex Pereira.'
Read the comments here.
Josh Thomson defends Patchy Mix and other PFL fighters
Patchy Mix, one of the Bellator fighters vocal about PFL's alleged ill-treatment and contract breach, recently got backing from former UFC star Josh Thomson.
Mix, along with Patricio Pitbull, Corey Anderson, and a few others, have been calling out the promotion for not booking fighters from the Bellator roster ever since the takeover. Cris Cyborg had similar complaints up until she featured against Larissa Pacheco in the co-main event of Francis Ngannou's PFL debut.
Reacting to a tweet by Mix flaunting his resume, Thomson wrote:
"No reason for this guy to [be] asking [for] his promotion for a fight or to stay active. 20-1 record and the @PFLMMA is failing him. Get this young man a fight in early 2025."
Fans debate online about Islam Makhachev's potential middleweight move
Islam Makhachev has long been eyeing a second UFC belt. However, Belal Muhammad has made it clear he will never fight the lightweight champion, who he sees as a "brother." The two have trained together in the past.
During a recent interview with The Schmo, AKA head coach Javier Mendez opened up on whether a potential move up to middleweight is in the books:
''I 100% feel Islam can [be the 185 champion] if that’s what he wanted to do... I see it in the gym, I know how good this guy is. 185 [pounds] is not gonna be an issue for him. It’s a matter of whether he wants to."
Mendez added that Makhachev walks around at 179-180 pounds when he's not in a fight camp, so he would need to put on some muscles if he fights at middleweight. He also said that they have not discussed a move up to 185 pounds. A potential jump to welterweight has been discussed, but he doesn't see Makhachev compete in the 170 pounds division till Muhammad is the champion, Mendez clarified.
Watch Javier Mendez's comments below (6:20):
