Alex Pereira has revealed that he will not be competing for the UFC light heavyweight championship in his next fight. According to the current UFC president Dana White, Pereira announced that he would be transitioning to the light heavyweight division.
Following his defeat by second-round knockout to Israel Adesanya at UFC 287, which resulted in him losing his middleweight title.
“Many people questioned [my weight cut] but I always went there and fulfilled my obligation, but now is a great moment to move up a division,” Pereira said on his YouTube channel. “I’m moving up a division now, and that’s my decision, but I’m sure that if I stayed in this division I can could fight him immediately. Let’s see how he behaves. I’m not going up because I can’t make the weight anymore. I can make the weight at any moment.”
After Alex declared his intention to move up to the UFC light heavyweight division. The Brazilian-born engaged in a heated exchange with the current champion, Jamahal Hill, as the duo called each other out.
Despite the potential for an eagerly anticipated fight between the two. Dana White, the UFC President, has stated that Pereira must secure a victory before any such bout can be arranged.
“You put him in title contention and then he has to beat someone to even be considered in title contention,” White said at the UFC Kansas City post-fight press conference (via LowKick MMA). “He’s got to move to 205 and beat a real guy, so that’s what we’re looking at right now, getting a real guy.”
Alex Pereira ready to move weight divisions
Jamahal Hill is yet to have his first title defense scheduled. But it is expected that he will face Jiri Prochazka once the latter has recovered from his injury.
As for Pereira’s debut in the light heavyweight division, it is currently unknown who his opponent will be. However, he is likely to be matched up against a highly-ranked adversary. And if he secures a victory, he may be in contention for a title shot in the future.
Alex, who currently holds a record of 7 wins and 2 losses, suffered a knockout defeat to Israel Adesanya at UFC 287. Following his previous victory over Adesanya at UFC 281, where he secured the middleweight title with a fifth-round TKO.
Despite only having a 3-0 record in the UFC, the Brazilian earned his title shot by scoring a first-round KO win against Sean Strickland. A decision victory over Bruno Silva, and a KO triumph over Andreas Michailidis.
