Ali Akbar Rosady
Las Vegas, NV – Alice Pereira, the highly-touted prospect who made headlines for joining the Ultimate Fighting Championship just days after turning 19, is set to return to the octagon at UFC Vegas 115 on April 4 at the Meta APEX. Seven months after her professional debut loss to Montserrat Rendon via decision, Pereira, known as "Golden Girl," has openly discussed her unexpected "apathetic" reaction to the defeat and the subsequent strategic efforts to build a "mental shield" for her sophomore UFC appearance against Hailey Cowan.
Pereira’s initial entry into the UFC was marked by significant anticipation. Her ambition was clear: to become the youngest woman ever to sign with the promotion. This goal was realized shortly after her 19th birthday, bringing with it considerable hype and expectation for her debut. However, the outcome against Montserrat Rendon did not align with these aspirations, resulting in a decision loss that marked the first professional defeat in her six-bout MMA career. Reflecting on that pivotal night, Pereira has expressed a complex mix of feelings, acknowledging both the disappointment of not securing a victory and a surprising emotional detachment from the loss itself.
"To be honest, at that moment when my hand wasn’t raised, I wasn’t sad," Pereira told MMA Fighting, offering a candid assessment of her immediate post-fight emotions. "I didn’t leave with the feeling that I had a terrible fight or that I didn’t do my job right. To this day, I don’t know if that was good or bad because I stayed apathetic about my fight for a long time. I didn’t have a bad feeling about it because, to me, I had done a good job." This admission highlights an unusual internal response for a fighter experiencing their first professional loss, especially one under such intense scrutiny.
Upon reviewing the fight, Pereira identified specific areas for improvement, particularly regarding her offensive output. She acknowledged that a more aggressive approach might have altered the dynamics of the bout. "I could have been a bit more aggressive, yes, but it’s very easy to say that when you watch it back," she explained. Her strategy for the Rendon fight was meticulously planned, primarily focusing on neutralizing Rendon’s grappling threats. "When we put together the game plan and the strategy, we go in there ready to follow it to a T, and I didn’t want to give Rendon any opening to take me down. I defended all the takedowns. Maybe that was even part of it. I might have been so focused on defending her takedowns that I held back some of my usual aggressiveness, which is what I was missing a bit to even things out." This strategic emphasis on defensive wrestling, while successful in preventing takedowns, may have inadvertently curtailed her natural offensive flow, a balance she aims to rectify in her upcoming bout.
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The transition from a highly touted prospect to a recipient of intense fan criticism occurred rapidly for Pereira following her debut. Within the span of 15 minutes in the octagon, public perception shifted, leading to a wave of online commentary. Some observers suggested that, at 19 and with a 5-0 record against less experienced competition, Pereira might have been too "green" for the demanding environment of the UFC. However, Pereira maintains a steadfast belief in her place within the promotion. "There’s no better place in the world for an athlete to be than the UFC," she asserted, emphasizing the unparalleled opportunities for growth and development the organization offers.
Navigating the landscape of online criticism has become a significant aspect of Pereira’s professional life. Surrounded by seasoned fighters, including her boyfriend Carlos Felipe, who has also competed in the UFC, she has gained perspective on managing public commentary. "We really have to ignore [comments online] because if we take everything we read seriously, we’ll go crazy," she shared, echoing a common sentiment among athletes exposed to social media scrutiny. Despite this awareness, the practical application of filtering out negativity proves challenging.
Pereira revealed that she encountered online hate even before her UFC signing, a phenomenon that only intensified after her debut. "I was already getting hate even before I was in the UFC, people talking trash in my comments, so imagine when I got in," she recounted. Her current strategy involves a conscious effort to filter out non-constructive content. "What I do most is filter things out now. Unfortunately, one of the things I like most is reading comments on any video, but I avoid it as much as possible now." The pervasive nature of online discussions means that comments about her can appear unexpectedly, even on unrelated posts, leading to frustration. "There have been many times when I go into a random post and people are talking about me. Like, guys, I’m not even the subject of this post, why are you talking about me? And then I end up getting mad at myself for having read the comments."
Recognizing the impact of such external pressures, Pereira has prioritized her mental well-being and resilience. "These days, the mental clean-up I do is really about avoiding this kind of content that won’t add anything to me," she stated. A crucial element of her preparation for UFC Vegas 115 has been a deliberate investment in mental conditioning. "And in this camp, after my first fight, I wanted to invest more in my mental work, with therapy and everything. Not because of other people’s opinions, but to help me build that mental shield, which might be the key I was missing." This commitment to psychological preparation underscores a mature understanding of the multifaceted demands of professional mixed martial arts, recognizing that mental fortitude is as vital as physical prowess.
In addition to her mental preparation, Pereira’s physical training camp for UFC Vegas 115 has been comprehensive. She made the decision to travel to Las Vegas a week earlier than initially scheduled, specifically to utilize the state-of-the-art facilities at the UFC Performance Institute. This resource, provided free of charge to UFC fighters, offers advanced training equipment, sports science support, and recovery services. Pereira views this as a crucial advantage, believing it "will only add more and help me keep progressing on this journey inside the UFC."
Prior to her arrival in Las Vegas, Pereira completed a significant portion of her camp in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. This phase involved strategic visits to multiple elite training teams, allowing her to diversify her sparring partners and refine specific skills. She trained alongside former UFC title challenger Ketlen Vieira at Nova Uniao, a gym renowned for its Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and MMA pedigree. Additionally, she worked with Melissa Gatto at KO Squad, further expanding her technical repertoire. "We carefully chose the places that would add to my game in terms of knowledge," Pereira explained. Her focus was on minute, yet potentially impactful, technical details. "Sometimes it’s a small position you learn, a different grip that can be effective for your game and change everything. Sometimes you learn a slightly different hand position and that could be the key to victory in a fight. We chose where we wanted to go and it was an amazing week. We met a lot of great people and learned a lot." This methodical approach to training reflects a commitment to continuous improvement, seeking out specific insights that could translate into decisive advantages in the cage.
Her opponent at UFC Vegas 115, Hailey Cowan, presents a different challenge. Cowan, 14 years Pereira’s senior, brings more experience to the octagon, having compiled a 5-2 professional record in Legacy Fighting Alliance (LFA) before joining the UFC. However, Cowan’s UFC tenure has been difficult, with consecutive losses to Jamey-Lyn Horth and Nora Cornolle, placing her in a critical position where a third consecutive defeat could jeopardize her future with the promotion. This context suggests that Cowan will be highly motivated to secure a victory.
Despite Cowan’s experience and urgent need for a win, Pereira expresses quiet confidence in her ability to dominate the upcoming bout across all aspects of MMA. "This time the story will be different because of many small adjustments we’ve been making throughout the camp," Pereira affirmed, indicating a refined approach since her debut. Her self-assurance extends to her envisioned path to victory, which she believes is multifaceted. "I have several paths to win this fight. I like to prepare beforehand, especially for my post-fight interviews. I’m that kind of fighter who already thinks, ‘My God, what am I going to say?’ I’m still undecided because there are so many ways this fight can go and so many ways I can get the win that I’m calm about how it will unfold."
Pereira further emphasized her mental clarity and acceptance of various fight outcomes. She is not fixated on securing a definitive finish, such as a knockout or submission, but rather on executing a dominant performance. "I don’t think I’ll be frustrated if I don’t get a knockout or a submission. If it goes to the scorecards, that’s fine too. I’m going in very clear-headed, knowing that whatever happens, I’ll be winning rounds and standing out. I know I have multiple paths, so I’m very calm about it." This measured perspective suggests a fighter who has processed her past experience, fortified her mental game, and is prepared to adapt to the flow of the fight, prioritizing victory regardless of its specific manifestation.
As Alice Pereira steps back into the UFC octagon, her journey from a heralded young talent to a fighter confronting the realities of elite competition has been marked by introspection and strategic evolution. The upcoming bout against Hailey Cowan at UFC Vegas 115 represents not only an opportunity for her first UFC victory but also a crucial test of the mental and physical refinements she has undertaken since her debut.
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