The public sentiment around the Jake Paul vs. Gervonta Davis exhibition wasn’t exactly favorable. But it wasn’t terrible either. Boxing was getting exposure, and there was plenty to talk about—even if most of it was complaints. However, once the fight was scrapped, Paul began his search for a new opponent, pushing his next bout to December. So, it wasn’t all that surprising when the Cleveland native mentioned Alex Pereira on his latest hit list of marquee names—fighters he claims will keep him busy.

“His team is down [to do the fight],” Paul told ESPN. “I think the only thing preventing it is the UFC. If these guys can get out of their contracts to fight me, it would be a massive fight.” On the surface, it might sound like a far-fetched idea—especially since Pereira still has four fights left on his UFC deal. But with ‘Poatan’ hinting at an appearance on the White House Card next June, the possibility doesn’t seem entirely unrealistic. For that to happen, though, the UFC would need to play along—and Dana White isn’t exactly known for sharing profits. But he has to!

Money and promotional opportunity alone should convince Dana White

Most fans remember Floyd Mayweather vs. Conor McGregor, and how could they not? Yet, in the beginning, even the UFC CEO wasn’t sold on the idea. It took McGregor’s persistence, the enormous financial potential, and the global spotlight that the bout promised to finally win Dana White over. What followed was a rare, low-risk promotional masterstroke: a boxing-only event that elevated the UFC brand without competing directly.

White co-promoted the fight with full force, later calling it a historic payday. And he wasn’t exaggerating. The clash generated over $600 million in revenue, with McGregor taking home around $130 million and the UFC securing a hefty cut. Today, the promotion arguably outshines boxing in mainstream popularity. So why not replicate the formula, especially ahead of what’s being billed as the biggest UFC card in history, perhaps even in the country’s history?

Alex Pereira already commands a massive following in both the U.S. and back home in Brazil, while Jake Paul’s name alone guarantees headlines. A matchup between them would be pure spectacle. Fans would pay to see the Brazilian powerhouse strike fear into Paul. Since it wouldn’t be an MMA fight and could happen before next year, pay-per-view would still be on the table.

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The numbers? They’d fly—perhaps even rivaling Mayweather vs. McGregor. Even if the UFC splits profits with Paul’s Most Valuable Promotions, the payday would be enormous. Not to mention, it will inevitably hype up ‘Poatan’s next fight, whoever he ends up fighting on the White House Card, Jon Jones or Tom Aspinall. The only question is: will Pereira actually accept, despite Paul’s bold claims that he will?

Jake Paul is the best fight for Alex Pereira 

Alex Pereira has long hinted at a move to boxing, and fans would love to see it happen. Earlier this year, that possibility gained momentum when Jake Paul called out the Brazilian after his fight against Mike Perry. ‘Poatan’ later clarified, “I’m going to be honest, of course boxing interests me.” He also added, “But he knows that I’m under contract with the UFC, and I can’t just leave. I think that’s why he calls [me out] and says all of that.”

“If the UFC were a league that allowed everyone to fight everywhere, he wouldn’t be saying that,” Pereira added. While he doesn’t view Paul as a worthy opponent, he’s expressed interest in testing himself against Oleksandr Usyk. “[Boxing] is something he really wants,” Coach Plinio Cruz translated for his star pupil on Rampage Jackson’s podcast. “But he’s in a contract with the UFC. We know McGregor did it… He’s the champ so he’d like to fight a champ. So Oleksandr Usyk… He feels that he could do really good.”

Even recently, Pereira doubled down on his ambitions. “I am definitely going to box,” Pereira told Connect Cast. “Look, I made it clear that I want to fight boxing. Same thing, right? When I got into kickboxing, they didn’t believe me. MMA, same thing. Boxing, they’ll say the same thing. But I’m used to it, I don’t care. I just want to go out there and fight. It’s not about aiming for more money. I like a challenge. I want to be the best.”

Clearly, the Brazilian’s intent is serious. While he seems against fighting Paul, all that’s left is the right offer. Perhaps a lucrative matchup with Jake Paul will convince him to swap MMA gloves for boxing ones. And this Jake Paul fight will only work in Pereira’s favor if he wants to fight Usyk down the line. The Paul fight will act as a warm-up before a far greater challenge like Oleksandr Usyk, once his UFC contract concludes.

All things considered, setting up a fight between Alex Pereira and Jake Paul would be a guaranteed way for Dana White to boost the UFC’s popularity. Second, generate massive hype for next year’s White House event. Third, secure a hefty payday for both UFC and the promotion’s current biggest star. The only question is—will White be up for it?