Alexei Pergande Grateful to Grow with the PFL

Alexei Pergande has spent his entire career as part of the Professional Fighters League roster. When the PFL playoffs kicked off on Aug. 2, the Kill Cliff Fight Club prospect was put on the card in his hometown of Nashville, Tennessee, and posted a unanimous decision over Daniel Boehle—a man he called his “toughest” opponent to date.

Now 5-0, Pergande admits winning in front of friends and family was special.

“That was amazing,” he told Sherdog.com. “I was saying before leading up to the fight that this was going to be the biggest fight of my career, and it truly was. The crowd showed out. I’ve never performed in front of a crowd that big before, especially that was rooting for me. I just feel like that was such a big step for myself. I felt a lot more confident going in there, as well. Obviously, I have a lot more to work on. I’m still very grateful [Boehle] showed up and had the best night he’s ever had.”

Having already gone the distance three times in five professional appearances, Pergande believes experience has been the best teacher for him.

“I know how to win, and I feel like sometimes playing it safe isn’t the worst thing,” he said. “I feel like now, especially in the beginning of my career, it doesn’t really matter that much. Even if I was losing right now, I feel like I’m building myself up. I’m doing it in a dominant fashion. No one can really even get close to my skillset, my level, how well-rounded I am. Hopefully, I get a pretty good test soon [and] gauge where my level is at. I’m already 5-0, so I think it’s probably going to be time to step up and get somebody a little bit tougher.”

Finding an uptick in his degree of difficulty should not be an issue for Pergande. While many young fighters with only five bouts under their belt may struggle to find worthwhile matchups, he now has access has rosters in the PFL and Bellator MMA from which to choose. Pergande recognizes he is fortunate to be in this situation and that the fights will come to him as he continues to progress.

“I’m just very lucky,” he said. “Obviously, there’s also the talent that came with it and me capitalizing on the opportunity, but it’s just all in God’s plan. I was coming off a nasty injury. I was supposed to make my professional debut at a local show. The day I was supposed to sign my contract, I got this nasty shoulder injury and then a couple months later I get a call, [a] once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, [in the] Challenger Series. I went out there and I capitalized on the opportunity, got a finish, got the contract and I just stayed patient. I trusted the process.”

Not pushing himself too far or too quickly, Pergande appreciates having the PFL fill his professional resume. If it were up to him, he would have a spot in the company’s global season in 2026.

“Growing with the PFL has been one of the most blessed opportunities that I’ve gotten,” Pergande said. “It is pretty insane, although I don’t reminisce on the past. I don’t look forward to the future. I live in the present. It is pretty crazy to see [the] PFL from my first ever fight. I hope to continue working with them, and hopefully in 2026, we’ll get into that tournament.”