Aline Pereira seeks UFC deal on Contender Series, following brother Alex's path
Aline Pereira, sister of UFC champion Alex Pereira, will compete for a UFC contract on Dana White's Contender Series in Las Vegas on 13 October. She faces undefeated Muay Thai champion Smilla Sundell in a bantamweight bout. Pereira, who holds a 3-2 MMA record, previously won a kickboxing title in Glory and a flyweight belt in Karate Combat League.
Aline Pereira's path to this opportunity has been unconventional. After a difficult start in MMA with a 1-2 record in Legacy Fighting Alliance, she stepped away in 2023 before rebuilding momentum in Karate Combat League, where she captured the inaugural women's flyweight title with two knockouts. Her return to MMA came in late 2025, with her brother Alex frequently serving as her trainer and cornerman.
The matchup presents a significant challenge. Sundell, at 21, has already made history in ONE Championship, winning its inaugural women's strawweight Muay Thai title at 17 years old — the promotion's youngest champion ever. Pereira's three MMA victories have all come by decision, while Sundell remains undefeated in her two MMA outings.
This bout could expand the UFC's roster with a notable sibling pairing, potentially drawing attention from fans of Alex Pereira's career. A contract win may also inspire more women from kickboxing backgrounds to pursue MMA transitions, while the rarity of sister-brother UFC duos could generate broader media interest in women's combat sports, though the outcome remains uncertain given Sundell's undefeated record.