Pereira And Holloway Both Score Coveted Video Game Cover Spot
By 813 Staff
The call had to be made. Late last week, somewhere in a boardroom at the publishers, someone looked at the mock-ups, likely nodded twice, and greenlit a cover that pairs two of the most violent, watchable names in the sport. League sources confirm that Alex Pereira and Max Holloway will split the cover of the next major UFC video game release, breaking the news initially reported by Home of Fight (@Home_of_Fight). The tweet posted Sunday carries weight because the account has been reliable on licensing deals before, and I’ve made enough calls since to know this one is real.
The front office has been quietly working this partnership for months, sources say. The game isn’t out until the fall, but the marketing push is set to begin soon. Pereira, the reigning light heavyweight champion and a two-division king, is the obvious choice for the action side of the cover—his left hook is the most feared weapon in the sport, and his rise from kickboxing to UFC stardom has been nothing short of meteoric. Holloway, meanwhile, is the sentimental pick. The former featherweight champion just turned in one of the gutsiest performances of the year, and those close to the situation say his inclusion was driven by both his legend status and his immense popularity with the gaming demographic. The pairing is smart: Pereira brings the casual fan’s raw power appeal, Holloway brings the loyalist’s heart and skill.
Why it matters—this cover drop is more than just a collector’s item. It signals a thematic shift for the franchise. The last few installments leaned heavily on promotional hype around Conor McGregor and Israel Adesanya. Those days are fading. By anchoring the campaign around two active, fan-approved fighters who are both currently fighting at a high level, the publishers are betting that the new generation wants authenticity over celebrity. It’s a read on where the sport is heading.
What comes next is the official unveiling. Expect full art assets and a launch trailer by mid-May, according to industry insiders. The developers are also late in talks for a few legacy fighters as downloadable content, but those deals remain unconfirmed. What is certain is that when the game hits shelves, the two faces on the front will be the ones who earned it in the cage—not just the ones with the biggest social media following.
Source: https://x.com/Home_of_Fight/status/2048781714525233305
