![Plinio Cruz (left) and Alex Pereira (middle) meet Donald Trump (right) at the Prudential Center. [Images courtesy: @pliniocruzmma on Instagram]](https://staticg.sportskeeda.com/editor/2025/06/2b02d-17494229847627-1920.jpg)
![Plinio Cruz (left) and Alex Pereira (middle) meet Donald Trump (right) at the Prudential Center. [Images courtesy: @pliniocruzmma on Instagram]](data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,%3Csvg%20xmlns='http%3A//www.w3.org/2000/svg'%20xmlns%3Axlink='http%3A//www.w3.org/1999/xlink'%20viewBox='0%200%2010%205.625'%3E%3Cfilter%20id='b'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20color-interpolation-filters='sRGB'%3E%3CfeGaussianBlur%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20stdDeviation='.5'%3E%3C/feGaussianBlur%3E%3CfeComponentTransfer%3E%3CfeFuncA%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20type='discrete'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20tableValues='1%201'%3E%3C/feFuncA%3E%3C/feComponentTransfer%3E%3C/filter%3E%3Cimage%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20filter='url(%23b)'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Earlier today, Alex Pereira and his coach, Plinio Cruz, were in attendance for UFC 316 at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey, where they met the President of the United States, Donald Trump.
Cruz later shared the moment on his Instagram in a post captioned:
"Great to meet and talk to Mr President @realdonaldtrump again, always a super humble and solid person with us!"
Check out Plinio Cruz's post below:
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'Poatan' last fought Magomed Ankalaev at UFC 313 and lost his light heavyweight championship to the Russian. Although a rematch is in the works, Ankalaev and Pereira have had numerous online back-and-forth, particularly following reports that the Brazilian was asked to face Ankalaev at UFC 317 but turned it down.
Recently, Ankalaev's manager, Ali Abdelaziz, said that his client is growing impatient with Pereira. Therefore, if 'Poatan' declines to fight Ankalaev in October in Abu Dhabi, the latter will find another opponent. In a recent sit down with MMA Junkie, Abdelaziz said:
"Hundred percent if it's not Abu Dhabi, he [Magomed Ankalaev] will fight someone else, for sure."
Check out Ali Abdelaziz's comments below (9:18):
Alex Pereira will respond to Magomed Ankalaev when "time is right"
Alex Pereira is not bothered by newly minted UFC champion Magomed Ankalaev's constant digs on social media. Ankalaev has called out Pereira for dodging an immediate rematch. The 33-year-old even claimed that the former champion is now retired and does not want a rematch against him.
'Poatan', however, is determined to respond to Ankalaev only when the time is right. He told UFC Brasil:
"He's promoting himself by saying my name. No one knows he's the champion, so when he says my name, he appears a little. But I'm not responding to his provocations, because I know it's just for promotion. I'll respond when the time is right."
Check out Alex Pereira's comments below:
