Aline Pereira Faces Toughest Test Yet in Bid to Join Brother Alex Pereira in UFC

While her big brother Alex Pereira finds himself on the sidelines following his ambitious heavyweight jump gone wrong, another Pereira is making her case for a spot in the UFC. Aline Pereira, “Poatan’s” younger sister, is chasing a unique brother-sister feat when she steps into Dana White Contender Series.

Standing between her and a UFC contract is an undefeated Muay Thai specialist, setting the stage for what could be a fascinating stand-up battle. 

Aline Pereira Has a UFC Contract Within Reach

The journey to the UFC has been anything but straightforward for Aline Pereira. At 35, the Brazilian is hardly a newcomer to combat sports, but her MMA career is still relatively young. 

Before making the switch, Pereira built a respectable career in kickboxing, including a run with GLORY that saw her challenge for a super-bantamweight title. Later, she found a new lease on her combat sports career in Karate Combat, where she went 3-0, scoring two knockouts and ultimately capturing the promotion's inaugural women's flyweight championship in 2024.

In hindsight, that success came as a breath of fresh air in a career that had stalled after Pereira went 1-2 in her first three MMA appearances with LFA. She stepped away from MMA in 2023, but eventually returned to the sport in late 2025.

Now, she finds herself one win away from the UFC. In a bout set for Oct. 13 at the Meta APEX in  Las Vegas, she faces Smilla Sundell for the coveted UFC contract. The math is pretty simple: win here, impress Uncle Dana White, and the UFC contract could be hers.

Aline Pereira Emerges Victorious at MVP MMA 1

Pereira's latest outing came at MVP MMA 1 earlier this year in May, where she edged Jade Masson-Wong by split decision. It was arguably the biggest MMA win of her career and came with her big brother in her corner.

That said, her upcoming DWCS bout is anything but a routine Contender Series assignment. Sundell represents perhaps the toughest test Pereira has faced since returning to MMA, and stylistically, the matchup promises an all-out war. 

Both women have deep striking backgrounds, meaning Pereira will likely have to rely on the experience she accumulated over the years. And while becoming the second Pereira in the UFC would inevitably bring plenty of attention, Aline has a chance to establish herself on her own terms.

Smilla Sundell is No Ordinary Muay Thai Specialist

If Pereira is hoping for an easy route into the UFC, Sundell is about as bad a draw as she could have received.

For the unversed, the Swedish prospect already has years of elite combat sports experience behind her. Formerly known as “Smilla Fairtex,” Sundell made her name in Muay Thai with ONE Championship, where she became the promotion's inaugural women's strawweight Muay Thai world champion.

Astonishingly, she was just 17 years old when she captured the title, becoming the promotion’s youngest champion at the time. In addition, Sundell has shared the ring with some of the best female strikers in the sport, picking up wins over former world champions Allycia Rodrigues and Jackie Buntan. 

With a Muay Thai record of 36-5-1, 23 KOs, the Swede poses a massive threat to Pereira’s dreams. Now, that is a frightening amount of experience for someone who is still only 21.

Regarding her MMA credentials, after moving her training base to Las Vegas, Sundell has begun building her resume with Tuff-N-Uff and is undefeated at 2-0, with both victories coming by TKO.

That’s exactly what makes this matchup so intriguing. On one side stands a seasoned veteran fighting to revive her MMA dreams. Across from her is the young blood looking to make her own mark and claim the very same UFC contract.