Aline Pereira’s bid to join her brother Alex Pereira in the UFC has ended in disappointment after she suffered a unanimous decision defeat to Smilla Sundell on Dana White’s Contender Series.
Sundell, a 21-year-old former ONE Muay Thai champion, impressed over three rounds to secure a UFC contract, despite initial reservations from UFC CEO Dana White about her limited experience in mixed martial arts.
The Swedish fighter took the initiative early, moving forward and applying sustained pressure with combinations. Pereira struggled to match her opponent’s output and spent much of the contest fighting on the back foot.
Although the Brazilian had moments of success, Sundell maintained her momentum to take the decision. All three judges scored the bout 29–28 in her favour.
White later acknowledged that he had been uncertain about offering Sundell a contract because of her inexperience. However, UFC matchmaker Mick Maynard helped convince him that the young prospect deserved the opportunity.
Sundell admitted she had felt nervous but was delighted with the outcome, saying she believed things happened for a reason.
For Pereira, the defeat leaves her with a professional MMA record of three wins and three losses since making her debut in 2022. She had entered the contest hoping to build on her recent appearance at the Ronda Rousey versus Gina Carano event on Netflix, where she defeated Jade Masson-Wong by split decision.
Her latest setback means she will have to continue developing outside the UFC if she hopes to earn another opportunity with the promotion.
Her brother, Alex Pereira, has already established himself as one of the sport’s leading fighters. The former middleweight and light-heavyweight champion attempted to become the first UFC fighter to win titles across three weight divisions when he challenged Ciryl Gane for the interim heavyweight championship in June. Gane stopped him in the second round.
Dana White Responds to Sean Strickland’s Pay Complaints
Elsewhere, White has pushed back against criticism from UFC middleweight champion Sean Strickland over fighter compensation.
Strickland recently expressed frustration with the money available in MMA, saying he no longer felt fully committed to the sport and believed boxing offered better financial opportunities.
The champion’s comments have added to an ongoing debate about UFC fighter pay, with Strickland questioning the difference between what fighters earn and the reported payouts received by major stars.
White said he had not spoken to Strickland personally about the latest complaints but had heard about them through social media. He also questioned the timing of the criticism, pointing out that Strickland signed a new contract in May.
White argued that the circumstances would be different if the champion had been fighting under the same deal for a year or two, but maintained that the agreement was relatively recent. He also disputed Strickland’s claims about his earnings.
Strickland, meanwhile, has indicated that he is interested in exploring boxing opportunities, leaving his longer-term future with the UFC uncertain as the disagreement over compensation continues.
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