Pereira’s sister, Aline, misses out of UFC contract

Aline Pereira – the sister of former UFC two-division champion Alex – has missed out on a UFC contract after losing on Dana White’s Contender Series.

Former kickboxer Pereira was hoping to follow in her brother’s footsteps in joining the UFC but suffered a unanimous decision defeat by Sweden’s Smilla Sundell.

Pereira, 36, won on the Ronda Rousey v Gina Carano undercard on Netflix in May, but was overwhelmed by Sundell’s pressure and volume of punches.

The Brazilian’s defeat means she has three wins and three losses on her MMA record since turning professional in 2022.

After the fight, UFC president Dana White said he was unsure about offering 21-year-old Sundell a contract despite her victory because of her inexperience, before being convinced by his team.

“I was scared but I believe everything happens for a reason and I’m really happy it worked out,” said Sundell.

Pereira’s 39-year-old brother Alex is one of the most successful fighters in UFC history, having won titles at middleweight and light-heavyweight.

In June he attempted to become the first fighter to win a belt in a third division, but lost to heavyweight champion Ciryl Gane.

Elsewhere, White responded to Sean Strickland’s claim that UFC fighters are not paid enough by pointing to the middleweight champion signing a new contract in May.

Last week, Strickland said his “heart isn’t in MMA anymore” and he would prefer a move to boxing because there is “more money to be made”.

“When isn’t Sean Strickland upset about something or doesn’t have something to say?” said White.

“Sean Strickland just signed a new contract in May. It is what it is.”

“If we were in a situation where he’d been under the same contract for a year, two years, but he just signed a contract in May.”