Alex Pereira has already won world titles in two different combat sports — and now he has his eye on a third.

Pereira, the reigning UFC light heavyweight champion and former middleweight champion who also won world championships in those categories during his kickboxing career, has been one of the organisation’s standout competitors since making his UFC debut in November 2021.

As such, Pereira has been the subject of a rake of ‘super-fight’ whispers in the media, with him being linked to the likes of Jon Jones, Tom Aspinall and even Khamzat Chimaev in recent months.

But while ‘Poatan’ has his hands full with an upcoming 205-pound title defence against the tough Magomed Ankalaev, he says that one fighter is of particular interest to him: boxing’s heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk.

“I don’t know, I think anything is possible. It’s something I can’t plan, but it is something I would really like to do,” Pereira said via an interpreter while appearing as a guest on the Jaxxon Podcast, as noted by MMA Fighting, when asked about his aspirations in boxing.

“That’s something that I really want. I’m under contract with the UFC. We know McGregor did it. I don’t know how I would, but someday I would really like to do it. I’m the champ. I would like to fight the champ.”

Pereira has been praised by members of the boxing community, most notably Teddy Atlas who recently told Carl Froch that the Brazilian’s left hook sits well alongside anything that could be delivered by a high-level boxer.

“I think it’s a very good fight. I love boxing,” Pereira added of a possible Usyk clash. “I see some people talking, ‘Oh, if it were pure boxing he would be lost’. Man, when you talk pure boxing, I feel great. I think I could fight these guys out there. I’ve already done some sparring with experienced guys, [coach] Plinio knows it, and they’re winning everything there.”

Pereira fights Ankalaev in the main event of UFC 313 on March 8.