Robert Whittaker has advised Alex Pereira not to drop down to middleweight to face Dricus du Plessis.
Du Plessis made his first defense of his middleweight title with a fourth-round submission win over Israel Adesanya in an all-out battle at UFC 305 in Perth on August 17. Pereira was one of many elite fighters who subsequently called for a matchup with du Plessis. The former middleweight champion and current light heavyweight champion has expressed interest in dropping down to 185 pounds to challenge “Stilnox.”
But Whittaker, a fellow former middleweight champion and top contender, wouldn’t advise Pereira to do that. He points out that if Pereira were to drop down to middleweight, it would drain the Brazilian’s physical strength as he has become a mainstay at light heavyweight. While Pereira is known for dominating his opponents from the stand, Whittaker highlights du Plessis’ ability to stay on his feet after taking hits. He also points out that du Plessis’ proven knockout power could be useful against Pereira, whose defense is also vulnerable.
“I honestly don’t think it’s a good fight. [Pereira]”But when you move up to light heavyweight, it’s hard to come down. You’re not moving up for one fight. He’s been moving up a weight class. He’s been moving up a weight class for a while now. So it’s going to take a lot of work to come down a weight class and Dricus is very strong at that weight class,” Whittaker told Submission Radio.
“Alex is a hard hitter and Dricus likes to get hit, so it’s hard to find someone with the power to stop Dricus coming at you. And Dricus has a lot of striking power. You saw it in his fight with Adesanya. Adesanya has a really strong chin and Dricus was still able to hurt him so much.”
Whittaker has witnessed du Plessis’ power first-hand, losing a second-round technical knockout to the South African at UFC 290 in July 2023. “The Grim Reaper” will look to return to title contention when he takes on fellow top contender Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 308 in Abu Dhabi on October 26.
Meanwhile, du Plessis’ coach, Morne Visser, is interested in a fight with Pereira, but only at light heavyweight.
