The UFC’s light heavyweight champion has left some fans staggered after they read the number on his scale.
Alex Pereira is in attendance for UFC 312 fight week as a way to corner Sean Strickland for his middleweight title fight within the principal event.
There was some criticism of the champion’s decision to make the trip over to Sydney, Australia when he has other pressing matters to take care of.
Next month at UFC 313, ‘Poatan’ will headline the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas when he looks to defend the 205-pound title against the person that many imagine to be his biggest threat in Magomed Ankalaev.
Pereira’s training priorities have been placed on hold temporarily whilst he helps out his friend and training partner in his rematch with Dricus du Plessis on the Qudos Bank Arena.
Fans react after Alex Pereira weighs in at 235-pounds during UFC 312 fight week
In a video posted by Alex Pereira on social media, the Brazilian will be seen stepping on the scales for a fast weight check now that he’s just over one month out from his return to the Octagon.
It’s value remembering presently that ‘Poatan’ entered the UFC as a middleweight.
He fought five times at 185-pounds without ever missing the mark but decided to maneuver up a weight class after losing the title in his rematch with Israel Adesanya at UFC 287.
With a “chama” thrown in before and after for good measure, Pereira steps on the scales which read 235-pounds, making him 30 kilos heavier than the sunshine heavyweight championship limit.
“And this dude used to make 185,” Remarked one fan. “How the actual F— did he make 185,” Exclaimed one other.
Light heavyweight isn’t a giant deal for Alex Pereira
Whilst 235-pounds may appear to be quite a bit, as several of the replies to the post indicate, this isn’t particularly unusual for Alex Pereira.
In reality, this appears to be a fairly normal weight for him which he’s in a position to consistently cut down before fight night arrives.
‘Poatan’ recently appeared on The Ariel Helwani Show where his coach, Plinio Cruz, spoke about why Pereira suits the sunshine heavyweight division so well at this stage in his profession.
“For me, I believe it’s higher. He’s 37-years-old, he’s on his prime. He’s a kickboxer at first, he’s used to fighting repeatedly. I fairly him fighting more often than having big gaps.”
Not only is making light heavyweight convenient for him, it allows Pereira to be as energetic as he desires to be.
“On this weight that he’s now, this weight cut, he can fight every month.”
