Newly signed 19-year-old UFC prospect Alice "Golden Girl" Pereira is officially set to make her debut in the promotion and will be the youngest female fighter ever signed to the organization.
Teenage Phenom Alice Pereira Set to Make UFC History in Division Desperate for New Stars originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
The UFC women’s bantamweight division, once a marquee weight class led by legends like Ronda Rousey and Amanda Nunes, is now struggling with a severe lack of competition and star power. Since Nunes' retirement in 2023, the division has failed to produce a dominant champion or compelling rivalries, with Julianna Peña and Raquel Pennington trading the belt in an underwhelming fashion.
While Kayla Harrison’s recent arrival brought a brief surge of excitement, her dominance has further exposed the division’s shallow talent pool, as few contenders pose a legitimate threat. Without fresh, marketable talent or a true superstar to galvanize interest, the division has seen significant lows since its heyday as the crown jewel of women’s MMA.
As the women's bantamweight division looks toward its future, the UFC is looking to develop the next generation of stars. Their next one may be in the form of Brazilian fighter Alice "Golden Girl" Pereira.
Pereira will enter the UFC history books when she steps into the octagon at Noche UFC on September 13 in San Antonio.
At just 19 years, 8 months, and 24 days old, Pereira will surpass South Korea's Chan Mi Jeon (19 years, 9 months, 13 days) to become the youngest female fighter in UFC history.
The bantamweight prospect will face Mexico's Montserrat Rendon (6-1 MMA, 1-1 UFC) in what promises to be a pivotal moment for women's MMA.
In a social media post, Pereira shared the news of her debut, saying, “The time has come! September 13th is my UFC Fight Night debut in Texas. The war will be against Mexican Montserrat Rendon. It’s time for the world to meet the Golden Girl.”
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Pereira's journey to the UFC has been nothing short of spectacular. Born December 20, 2005, in Feira de Santana, Brazil, she compiled a perfect 6-0 professional record in just 17 months since her August 2023 debut. Pereira has earned her "Golden Girl" nickname due to her technical striking skills and relentless aggression.
What makes her record particularly impressive is that she's finished five of her six fights, including four by knockout and one by submission.
Her most notable victory came against former ONE Championship title challenger Samara Santos in December 2024, where she showcased her well-rounded game with two knockdowns and four takedowns en route to a unanimous decision win.
After the fight, UFC matchmaker Mick Maynard signed the young phenom, delivering the news in an emotional FaceTime call.
“Never in my wildest dreams did I think Dana White would call me on Christmas Eve wearing a shirt with my name on it to give me the best gift of my life,” she said in an Instagram post shortly after signing back in December. “Mick Maynard posting my video on his personal Instagram? It’s surreal! But I won’t let the hype distract me—I’m just getting started.”
Pereira's opponent, 37-year-old Montserrat Rendon, hasn't competed in 30 months since her March 2024 loss to Darya Zheleznyakova.
The UFC signing “The Golden Girl” represents an ongoing significant shift, as she is the first fighter born in 2005 to join the promotion. A strong performance could immediately position her as one of the division's most exciting prospects and breathe life into a division that lacks star power and solid competitive intrigue.
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This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 8, 2025, where it first appeared.
Category: General Sports
