Tom Aspinall’s name has re-entered the spotlight alongside Alex Pereira, but this time it is not just about a potential fight. A resurfaced clip suggests the UFC heavyweight champion may have seen this moment coming long before it materialised.
Back in December 2023, the Briton appeared on the True Geordie podcast and shared a brief interaction with Pereira. At the time, talk of ‘Poatan’ moving up in weight existed, but it remained speculative rather than imminent.
Fast forward to now, and Pereira is set to face Ciryl Gane for the interim heavyweight title. With Aspinall recovering from eye surgery, a future undisputed clash between the two is already being discussed if Pereira comes through that test.
Tom Aspinall recalls moment he felt Alex Pereira was targeting him
In the resurfaced clip, Aspinall explained why he believed the Brazilian star was already considering a move to heavyweight.
The 32-year-old said: “He [Pereira] was quite frosty when I met him. I don’t know him personally, I didn’t know if he was just like that. Got off the press conference, and my dad said, ‘How was it?’ I said, ‘Do you know Alex Pereira?’ He said, ‘Yeah.’
“I said, ‘He thinks he can beat me, you know?’ And my dad was like, ‘What do you mean?’ I don’t know, I can just tell. I literally could feel off him that, mate, he wasn’t posturing, he wasn’t like trying to intimidate me or nothing.
“I just felt like he had in his mind, maybe I’m just making it up, I have no idea, but I’ve never done it with anyone before, and I’m not like that insecure guy. I just felt”
At the time, those comments carried little weight beyond curiosity. Now, they appear far more significant given Pereira’s current trajectory.
Alex Pereira sharpens heavyweight tools ahead of Ciryl Gane clash
Pereira’s preparation for his move to heavyweight has already drawn attention. Footage circulating online shows him training for the White House card alongside coach and former UFC champion Glover Teixeira.
He was spotted practicing takedown defence, a key area against a well-rounded opponent like Gane.
Other clips have also highlighted Pereira’s striking, with his speed and power visibly troubling his own coach during pad work.
With momentum building and a title opportunity ahead, the idea of Pereira facing Aspinall no longer feels hypothetical. It is a scenario that may have been forming long before the rest of the division caught on.
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