UFC light-heavyweight champion Alex Pereira has set his sights on a return to the middleweight division, aiming to become a two-division champion. The Brazilian’s interest in reclaiming the middleweight crown was sparked after Dricus Du Plessis shocked the MMA world by submitting Israel Adesanya at UFC 305 in Perth.
The South African, who’s 30 years old, delivered a stellar performance, silencing the crowd and derailing Adesanya’s comeback plans. His win cemented his status as the top middleweight in the UFC, proving once again that he’s a force to be reckoned with in the division.
Pereira, always ambitious, sees an opportunity to make history again in the UFC by challenging Du Plessis. Fresh off retaining his 205-pound title with a highlight-reel head-kick knockout over Jiri Prochazka at UFC 303, Pereira is now contemplating a return to his former weight class. Despite the challenges of dethroning Du Plessis, Pereira appears confident and determined.
Du Plessis, fresh off his first successful title defence against Adesanya, was quick to show respect to Pereira, the former middleweight king. The possibility of a future clash between these two warriors is already generating buzz among fans.
Alex Pereira Calls for Middleweight Title Fight With UFC Champion Dricus du Plessis
While a rematch with Sean Strickland seems to be the next logical step for Du Plessis, there’s no denying that Alex Pereira is an interested and intriguing potential opponent. The Brazilian was keenly watching the UFC 305 main event from Australia. Shortly after the event concluded, Pereira shared his thoughts on social media. He posted a photo on Instagram of himself sitting by the TV, with Du Plessis being crowned champion on the screen. His caption was simple but telling: “Coming down to 185 one more time.”
The idea of a showdown between Pereira and Du Plessis is tantalizing. Du Plessis has already defeated Strickland, but he has yet to face Pereira. A matchup with the UFC superstar could prove to be one of the most exciting bouts in the middleweight division.
Since joining the UFC in 2021, Pereira has made a name for himself as one of the sport’s biggest stars. He quickly rose to prominence, becoming a UFC champion in just his fourth fight by knocking out Israel Adesanya at UFC 281 in 2022. Now at 37, Pereira remains one of the best pound-for-pound fighters in the world.
As Pereira eyes a return to middleweight, he must first focus on his upcoming light-heavyweight title defense. The Brazilian superstar is scheduled to return to the Octagon on October 5th at UFC 307 in Salt Lake City, Utah. This will be his third defense of the undisputed UFC light-heavyweight title.
Pereira vs. Khalil Rountree Jr.
There’s been considerable excitement surrounding the announcement of Pereira’s next bout. However, the choice of opponent has raised some eyebrows. While many expected Pereira to face Russian contender Magomed Ankalaev, UFC president Dana White confirmed that Pereira will instead fight the eighth-ranked light heavyweight, Khalil Rountree.
Rountree is currently riding a five-fight win streak, with four of those victories coming via knockout. Despite this impressive run, he has only defeated one ranked opponent during this period. This has led to some controversy, especially considering Rountree was pulled from a scheduled bout with Jamahal Hill at UFC 303 after failing a routine doping test. According to MMA Fighting, Rountree remains under suspension by the Nevada Athletic Commission due to that failed test.
The decision to grant Rountree a title shot despite his suspension and limited experience against top-ranked opponents has sparked debate among fans and analysts. Many believe that Ankalaev, with his more impressive resume, would have been a more deserving challenger.
Nonetheless, Alex Pereira remains focused on defending his title and continuing his dominant run in the UFC. Fans are eager to see how he’ll fare against Rountree and whether he’ll eventually make the move back to middleweight to challenge Du Plessis.
All Eyes on Pereira
If Pereira can successfully defend his light-heavyweight title and then drop back down to middleweight, he could find himself in a position to make history once again. Becoming a two-division champion is a rare and prestigious accomplishment in the UFC, and Pereira has the skills and determination to achieve it.
As the date for UFC 307 approaches, all eyes will be on Pereira. Whether he stays at light heavyweight or makes the move to middleweight, his future in the UFC looks as exciting as ever. Fans can only speculate on what’s next for “Poatan,” but one thing is clear: Pereira is far from finished making his mark on the sport.
In the coming months, the UFC landscape could shift dramatically, especially if Pereira decides to pursue the middleweight title once more. With Du Plessis holding the belt and Strickland in the mix, the middleweight division is heating up. A potential clash between Pereira and Du Plessis could be one of the most anticipated fights in recent memory. For now, though, the focus remains on UFC 307 and Pereira’s upcoming title defence.
Featured image credits to Embed from Getty Images and Embed from Getty Images
