Alejandro Perez reflects on recent rise to contendership, eyes return at UFC 232

Alejandro Perez has been picking up speed in his fighting career. It’s undeniable that he’s becoming a force to be reckoned with in the UFC’s 135-pound division.

The winner of the inaugural season of The Ultimate Fighter: Latin America is currently unbeaten in his last seven UFC bouts. Perez’s recent streak includes notable wins over Iuri Alcantara, Matthew Lopez, Scott Jorgensen, and most recently former WEC champion Eddie Wineland.

It’s taken Perez almost three years to put together this unbeaten run, and it’s one that now has him a couple of spots outside the top 10 of the stacked bantamweight division.

“I’ve been very busy with several things I’ve had to take care of, so I haven’t really fully processed everything, but I am No. 12 in the rankings,” Perez told MMA Fighting. “I do realize that I’m getting closer (to the title) and that it’s attainable, so I do feel very happy and satisfied about everything.

“I’m also very thankful for all my opponents that I’ve fought because they’ve been formidable challengers that have helped me improve. And thanks to them, I’ve been sharpening my skills and climbing the ladder.”

Perez doesn’t know how many victories away he is from challenging for the belt, but he does think it’s a possibility that he could find himself fighting the champ in 2019.

“I think so, I think the possibility is there, and if the opportunity arises, I’m going to give it my all to win,” Perez said.

“I’ve been getting closer and I just have to keep giving it my all and we’ll see how the opportunities present themselves. So two, three, four fights, whatever it takes, I don’t care. All I know is that I want to get to fight for the title and I want to win it.”

Perez was recently called out by rising prospect Sean O’Malley. Although he liked the idea of getting in the Octagon with O’Malley, scheduling wasn’t in Perez’s favor — “Suga” was instead given Perez’s former foe and fellow Mexican Jose ‘Teco’ Quinonez.

“I really wanted that fight and I still want it, so who knows,” Perez said. “We (Perez and Quinonez) actually talked about it through social media, and I think that’s a really good fight. ‘Teco’ has also been doing well and he’s on a streak, but he hasn’t fought in a bit. But so has Sean O’Malley, I believe he hasn’t fought since Dec. 9, so I find it to be a good fight.

“It did interest me, but not for Oct. 6 because I wanted to [take a break], but not only that, I also needed it. My body needs to recover 100 percent.”

Perez is not upset he missed out on the fight with O’Malley, a contest that could’ve brought a lot of attention to his career given O’Malley’s hype and popularity. There’s several other bantamweights Perez would also like to fight.

“There are plenty of other fighters out there,” Perez explained. “Pedro Munhoz just fought and he’s in the top. There’s Rob Font, I also want to fight him. There is Thomas Almeida, there is also John Lineker, so I’m going to keep preparing. I’ve also told you in previous interviews that Aljamain Sterling interests me, so we’ll see what happens. I want to fight someone from the top, I want to keep climbing.”

Perez’s journey to the summit of his division has been built through fighting. However, at this point of his campaign for UFC gold, the 28-year-old AKA fighter will have to continue the grind without getting in the cage, at least for some time.

“Since mid-July until now, I’ve been doing physical rehabilitation, taking care of the muscles in my body that I hadn’t worked on and also the tendons — I’ve been seeing someone who’s really good in the area,” Perez said regarding the break he’s taking from competition. “In all the camps that I’ve had, I haven’t had any serious injuries, thank God.

“But there are little bumps and bruises here and there that I do want to let heal 100 percent. And that’s what I’ve been up to. But I’m still training and I’m feeling really good. We’re going to continue with the plan and we’re going to keep recovering and getting stronger.

“In the last weight cut (for the Wineland fight in July), I was telling my body, ‘We’re going to make weight and I promise you that after this fight I’m going to take care of you well,” Perez added, laughing.

“It’s a process that’s a bit hard, but normal, it’s bearable, nothing too damaging to the body. I cut approximately 12 to 17 pounds, and I’ve even cut up to 18 pounds. My body is responding and it’s fine, but just being constantly in the sauna, running and all that, the organs also need a good period of re-hydration.

“Regardless, I do want to fight this year. I would love to fight in a card in December, so I’m going to be preparing and working on whatever I need to work on, so I can be ready for a card in December.”