Alex Pereira’s coach Plinio Cruz has signed a three-fight deal with Misfits Boxing.Cruz, fresh from cornering Pereira during a devastating loss to Ciryl Gane at the UFC White House show last weekend, even claims he will fight for the promotion’s heavyweight title in September.Cruz, left, has coached Pereira to become one of the UFC’s biggest modern starsGettyThe current Misfits Boxing heavyweight titleholder is Chase DeMoor, who last defended the title against Andrew Tate six months ago.DeMoor called out Tommy Fury in Manchester on Saturday night after the latter defeated Eddie Hall in a six-round exhibition fight, but could now find himself coming to blows with Cruz down the line.“I’ve just signed a contract with Misfits,” the 40-year-old 2024 World MMA Awards Coach of the Year said on The Ariel Helwani Show this week.“I don’t have the date yet, but I’ll be fighting for the belt in September.“What I know from Misfits, they promised me that in September I’m going to box for the heavyweight title.“If it’s [DeMoor], if they’re going to strip him, or it’s going to be somebody else, I don’t care.“Me, Plinio Cruz, I’m boxing for the Misfits heavyweight belt in September.”Asked why he wants to try his hand at Misfits, Cruz, who holds a professional record of 8-9, having claimed the Cage Fury FC heavyweight belt in 2014, said Pereira and his team ‘pushed’ him to do it.Former UFC middleweight and light heavyweight champion Pereira added: “[Cruz] never wants me to stop and always thinks I’ll do really good.“He’s fully supportive, and it’s perfect timing because [my other coach] Glover [Teixeira] is fighting [Mauricio ‘Shogun’ Rua] on August 29 in boxing.”View Tweet: https://x.com/MisfitsBoxing?ref_src=twsrc%5EtfwCruz has played a huge role in Pereira’s meteoric rise, which witnessed the Brazilian claim UFC titles in two different divisionsGettyCruz confirmed Pereira will be his coach and 100 per cent be in his corner for his boxing debut.Pereira handed 180-day suspensionAs for Pereira, the Brazilian said he wants to make a UFC return as quickly as September following his nasty knockout loss to Gane.However, California State Athletic Commission executive director Andy Foster confirmed to MMA Junkie this week that the Brazilian has been medically suspended for 180 days.This means that we may not see ‘Poatan’ back in action until 2027, having failed in his attempt to become the promotion’s first three-division champion on the South Lawn of the White House.Pereira was furious with referee Herb Dean during his loss to Gane due to illegal blows, something UFC heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall, who Gane is set to fight next, most certainly agreed with.Reports originally suggested the 38-year-old was going to appeal the defeat, but he told Helwani that it ‘doesn’t make sense’ and all he wants is a rematch.Pereira was stunned by Gane in the second round of their UFC White House clashGettyUFC ScheduleFor all the upcoming fights and results this year, check out talkSPORT.com’s UFC schedule.‘Poatan’ has confirmed he plans to stay in the heavyweight division for now.