Alice Pereira sees aggression as key against Darya Zheleznyakova

Alice Pereira has her strategy set for UFC Vegas 122. On Saturday, the Brazilian will step inside the Octagon to face Darya Zheleznyakova in a bout between two strikers. With the matchup just around the corner, Pereira is confident that her aggression inside the cage will be the key to overcoming the Russian's style and imposing her game.

Alice Pereira Plans to Use Aggression Against Darya Zheleznyakova

About to face a striker with a background in kickboxing, Pereira is aware of Zheleznyakova's ability to control the distance and land straight punches. However, the Brazilian plans to rely on an aggressive approach inside the Octagon to close the distance and overcome the Russian's striking style. Speaking to Ag Fight, Pereira pointed out that imposing her striking game first will be crucial to defeating Zheleznyakova.

"Am I the favorite? I haven't seen the odds either," Pereira began. "For me, I think I'll do better with Darya's style. Even though we're both strikers and she has a distance-based style, she moves well and has very good straight punches. I think maybe my aggression can overcome her distance-based striking. I see this fight as being about whoever can impose their striking game first. If she finds the distance first, or if I find the distance first."

Although she has a clear strategy for the matchup, Pereira also acknowledged that aggression alone will not be enough to impose her game. The Brazilian believes she must first find the right distance before she can pressure Zheleznyakova and make her style work.

"Because even to be aggressive, I need to find her distance," Pereira said. "I think I'll be able to do better because of that. My aggression will be the key for the judges to see that I will be the one dominating the fight."

At 20 years old, Pereira is ready to make her third UFC appearance against Zheleznyakova. The Brazilian made her promotional debut in September 2025, when she suffered a split decision loss to Montserrat Rendon. Over six months later, the Brazilian bounced back with a knockout victory over Hailey Cowan.

Meanwhile, Zheleznyakova is coming off a unanimous decision loss to Melissa Croden in April and enters the fight looking to rebound. The Russian fighter holds a 10-3 professional record.

Pereira and Zheleznyakova are scheduled to meet at UFC Vegas 122 on Saturday in Las Vegas. The event will be headlined by a middleweight bout between Brendan Allen and Christian Leroy Duncan.