Smilla Sundell earns UFC contract after defeating Aline Pereira

Smilla Sundell secured a UFC contract after beating Aline Pereira by unanimous decision on Dana White’s Contender Series, BBC Sport reported. The result left Pereira without the deal she had sought as she attempted to join her brother Alex, a former champion in two UFC weight divisions, in the promotion.

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Sundell, a 21-year-old from Sweden, used sustained attacking pressure and a high output of punches to get the better of the Brazilian, according to BBC Sport’s Paul Battison. Pereira, 36, entered the contest following a victory on the Ronda Rousey–Gina Carano undercard, which was shown on Netflix in May.

The defeat came in Pereira’s sixth professional mixed martial arts appearance and took her record to three wins and three losses. A former kickboxer, she began her professional MMA career in 2022. Her latest attempt to earn a UFC place ended with the judges awarding the decision to Sundell.

Even victory did not immediately settle Sundell’s future. UFC president Dana White said after the fight that her lack of experience had made him uncertain about offering her a contract. His team persuaded him to proceed. Sundell subsequently described feeling scared during the uncertainty and happy that the decision ultimately went her way.

Alex Pereira was in his sister’s corner for the bout, BBC Sport reported. The 39-year-old has held UFC titles at middleweight and light-heavyweight. In June, he challenged heavyweight champion Ciryl Gane in an attempt to become the first fighter to win a UFC belt in three divisions, but lost.

White also addressed a separate issue after the event: middleweight champion Sean Strickland’s criticism of fighter pay. Strickland had said the previous week that his enthusiasm for MMA had faded and that he would prefer to move into boxing because he believed it offered greater earnings. In response, White pointed to Strickland having signed a new contract in May, distinguishing that recent agreement from a situation in which a fighter had remained on the same deal for a year or two.