Alex Perez Says Loss Is Not the End

Alex Perez has addressed his UFC Shanghai loss to Sumudaerji with a direct message of accountability, telling supporters that the setback will not mark the end of his road. Perez posted on Instagram one day after the flyweight rematch, which Sumudaerji won by unanimous decision on three 29-28 scorecards. Rather than dispute the result, Perez congratulated his opponent and focused on the people who have supported him through the latest turn in an already unusual stretch of fights.

Perez wrote that it was not his night and offered no excuses, despite saying he felt amazing and that camp was great. He opened his message by giving glory to God and congratulating Sumudaerji. Perez also thanked his wife, son, family, friends, coaches, teammates and the fans in China. His statement included appreciation for both support and criticism, which he said help make it possible for him to do what he loves. Perez closed by saying fans would see him soon, adding that he would be back better than ever and that this is not the end. The tone matters because it places the focus on his response to a close decision rather than on a public argument over the cards.

Perez closes a two-fight chapter

The UFC Shanghai result settled a two-fight sequence between Alex Perez and Sumudaerji that had begun without a conventional winner. Their first meeting in May ended in a no contest after an accidental low blow left Perez unable to continue. Saturday’s rematch gave the pairing a clean conclusion, with all three judges scoring the bout 29-28 for Sumudaerji. That narrow, uniform scoreline is an important detail: Perez was not describing a fight stopped early or a result left unresolved, but a completed rematch decided on the scorecards.

The source material also described Perez having early moments in which his wrestling made the fight difficult. Sumudaerji, however, forced enough of the third round into chaotic exchanges to secure the verdict in Shanghai. For Perez, the defeat follows a sequence in which the details of each appearance have been notably different. He began 2026 by knocking out Charles Johnson at UFC 324 after missing weight. The May contest with Sumudaerji then ended as a no contest, before the rematch produced the unanimous decision loss. Putting those events in order explains why Perez’s statement was more than a reaction to one night: it was his response to a three-stop run that moved from a knockout win to an unfinished bout and then to a close loss.

What Perez’s message established

Perez did not announce a fight, identify a future opponent or set a timetable for his return. What he did confirm was his intent to continue. His wording was clear: he accepted that the night belonged to Sumudaerji, said he had no excuses, and told followers that he would return improved. That leaves his immediate competitive future unspecified, but it gives a firm account of his own position after UFC Shanghai. Perez’s public response also fits the career context provided by the source. He is a former UFC flyweight title challenger and previously stepped in for Cody Garbrandt against Deiveson Figueiredo. He has experienced difficult losses, including Alexandre Pantoja submitting him quickly at UFC 277, while injuries have also affected his momentum, including the 2023 issue he addressed after being pulled from UFC San Antonio. Against that background, the value of this statement is its simplicity: Perez did not present the decision as an excuse or a final verdict on his career. He acknowledged it, thanked his circle and stated that he plans to keep moving forward.

• Perez accepted the UFC Shanghai decision, congratulated Sumudaerji and said there were no excuses.
• Perez thanked his family, team and fans, said he values support and criticism, and pledged to come back better than ever.

Alex Perez’s first public comments after UFC Shanghai were not a challenge to the scorecards or an announcement of what comes next. They were a concise acknowledgment of a close defeat and a promise to return. The rematch ended the no-contest chapter with Sumudaerji, while Perez’s message made clear that he does not view the result as the end of his career.