Curtis Blaydes has strong opinions about Alex Pereira’s potential move to heavyweight and isn’t shy about sharing them.
Pereira, who previously held the UFC middleweight title before being defeated by Israel Adesanya, made the switch to the light-heavyweight division in July 2023. Since then, he has not only claimed the 205lb title but also successfully defended it with a stunning knockout victory over former champion Jiri Prochazka at UFC 303.
Recently, Pereira hinted at a possible transition to the heavyweight division, sparking excitement among fans who dream of him becoming Dana White’s first three-weight champion. However, Blaydes, who is set to face interim champion Tom Aspinall at UFC 304, believes that moving up to heavyweight might be a misstep for Pereira.
At the UFC 304 media day, Blaydes expressed his concerns about Pereira’s potential foray into heavyweight. “Bad idea,” Blaydes remarked when asked about Pereira’s plans to move up.
Curtis Blaydes Sends UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Alex Pereira a Warning
Blaydes didn’t hold back, laying out his strategy if he were to face Pereira. “I’ll give him my premeditated plan. I’m going to shoot [for a takedown] immediately. Why would I give him any chance to knock me out on the feet when I know I can take him down at will? I’m sure he has to know that.”
Blaydes speculated that Pereira might be targeting specific heavyweights rather than the division as a whole. “I think he’s looking for a specific heavyweight, not any heavyweight. I could see him beating Tai [Tuivasa] and maybe some other guys at the bottom of the top 15. If you give him a top-five guy with some real weight, he’s not winning.”
Strong Claim from Blaydes
Despite Pereira’s impressive UFC debut, which featured a spectacular flying knee knockout, Blaydes isn’t worried about the potential danger of striking exchanges. He is confident in his ability to withstand powerful shots while pursuing his takedown strategy. “I’m gonna eat that knee,” Blaydes said. “I ate a knee from Alistair [Overeem]. Do you think he throws harder knees than Alistair? I know he’s got the aura going on right now, but I ate a knee from 265lb Alistair. I’m good with eating knees.”
Blaydes concluded by emphasizing his belief in the importance of size and power in the heavyweight division. “I would f*** up Alex Pereira. It’s not that he’s not good. I’m heavier than he is. Weight and gravity matter. That’s just how it is.”
What do you think of Curtis Blaydes and his assessment on how a fight would go with Alex Pereira? Do you agree? Let us know in the comments!
Featured image credits to Embed from Getty Images and Embed from Getty Images
