Whilst Alex Pereira is preparing for the subsequent defense of his UFC light heavyweight championship, set for UFC 307 against veteran Khalil Rountree Jr, that hasn’t stopped the Brazilian superstar from teasing his next big-money move.
In truth, the previous kickboxing world champion has stated that despite headlines surrounding a possible super-fight with either Jon Jones or Tom Aspinall looming large at heavyweight, he may not be done with 185lbs in any case.
Alex Pereira says he ‘wants’ to maneuver back right down to middleweight to fight DDP
Over recent months, there had been speculation that Alex Pereira could move as much as heavyweight within the hopes of capturing title gold and glory in a 3rd weight class; something that coach Glover Teixeira says can be ‘no problem’ for Poatan.
Yet Pereira himself has now come out to tease that his next move, after facing Khalil Rountree Jr in October, could possibly be back right down to his old stomping ground of middleweight – lower than heavyweight as many expected.
“I’m focused on my next fight and I’m going [to be] prepared but you never know what can occur,” Pereira stated in a recent Instagram post, confirming that “Whatever the result [vs Rountree] I would like to go down another time to the middleweight and go for the belt.
“Hey Dricus, bring your will to fight me so you may prove that you simply are higher than me, along with your public statement it is straightforward to make this occur, Chama.”
Dana White reacts to Alex Pereira claiming he could move back right down to 185lbs
On the post-fight press conference following last night’s latest episode of Dana White’s Contender Series, the UFC President was asked about his tackle Pereira teasing a move back right down to middleweight.
“My tackle him is ‘He’s f****** nasty’ – that’s my tackle him,” stated Dana White, explaining how such commitment to fighting is why so many fans have develop into enamored by Pereira since signing for the promotion.
“He wants to maneuver up, he wants to maneuver down, he desires to do all the pieces – that’s why people love him. Those are the kind of fighters that individuals love so you realize, Pereira desires to fight everybody, and I find it irresistible.”
“The thing that’s great about that is that it gives us a tonne of options that as we’re in matchmaking ‘Should we do that, should we try this, shouldn’t we do that, shouldn’t we try this’ – it’s an excellent problem to have with a man like him.”
White would seek advice from the undeniable fact that with regards to Alex Pereira, agreeing to unexpected but highly entertaining title fights is nothing latest for the Brazilian.
“How about he’s on vacation in Australia and accepts the last-minute fight? All the things about Alex Pereira is what makes fans absolutely love him.”
Yet should Pereira make that move back right down to middleweight, it’ll likely be the tip of his heavyweight aspirations since at 37 years old, there probably isn’t enough time to drift between three different weight classes.
“Listen, all these guys are battling time, we’re just going to need to see what happens over the subsequent couple of months,” acknowledged White.
“There are a number of fights happening in these weight classes and first Stipe vs Jones must occur, then we work out where we go there… Aspinall is clearly the subsequent guy to get the subsequent title shot and we’ll see the way it all plays out.”
One man who actually wasn’t as impressed with Pereira’s tease of a move back to middleweight is the person who currently retains the 185lb title, Dricus Du Plessis.
The South African brawler took to X to reply: “Alex Pereira you and your boyfriend Sean Strickland can have a domestic dispute on who gets slept first.”
Alex Pereira vs Khalil Rountree Jr goes down live at UFC 307 from Salt Lake City, Utah on October 5.
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