Alex Pereira is hungry for a fight and a record-breaker, but there’s no rush to know the name, date, or location of his next fight inside the UFC Octagon.
“Poitan” recently defended his light heavyweight title with a shortstop over Jamahal Hill in the main event of UFC 300, the second-fastest victory of his MMA career. He then spoke about his options in an interview on MMA Fighting’s podcast “Trocação Franca.”
“That’s difficult to answer. I haven’t thought much about it yet,” Pereira said when asked if he would next defend his belt or challenge at heavyweight. “If it’s for a longer period of time, I obviously want to defend my belt. If it takes too long and I fight at heavyweight and get injured, when am I going to defend my belt? I don’t want to keep it.
“I was imagining the best-case scenario [when I called for a heavyweight fight at UFC 301], But two of my toes were broken. Both legs are shit. it’s complicated. I don’t want to defend the light heavyweight division.A cool scenario would have been to fight at heavyweight. [at UFC 301] And giving someone the next chance to fight for the light heavyweight belt. I think that was cool. ”
UFC interim heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall posted a photo of himself watching Pereira enter the Octagon at UFC 300 and recently announced that he will defend his belt at the upcoming UFC show in Manchester. Although the date and opponent for Aspinall’s next fight have not been disclosed, Pereira recognizes the heavyweight’s talent and admitted he was wise to post the photo on social media.
As for challenging for Aspinall’s third belt in Manchester, ‘Poitin’ said it was up to the UFC to make the decision.
“I have to think about what’s best for me, but I’m not alone. My manager is with me too,” Pereira said. “I’m here. I’m like a gamecock. If you put another cock in front of me, I’m there to fight, and we’ll fight, you know. But I have to think about what’s best for me, my career and my team. I’m open to fighting anyone, but it’s not for me to decide.”
Pereira sees Magomed Ankalaev as one of his top choices for his second light heavyweight title defense after the Russian KO’d Johnny Walker, but he plans to fight Ankalaev at a pay-per-view in Abu Dhabi in October. I have no interest in mandating a convocation.
Pereira, who broke a toe two weeks before UFC 300 and then another in his win over Hill, expects to be medically cleared to practice in early May.
“I don’t want to fight at the end of the year,” Pereira said. “I want to fight faster, so maybe that shows he’s not ready. I don’t know why he said that.”
Asked about Ankalaev’s decision-making, he added: “This guy is complicated.” “Honestly, we need to figure out what’s best. I’m here to fight, but other things like where’s best are things I don’t understand the most. [to fight] And where is not. If I have to fight there I will fight, but if it’s not the date I want, it’s not what’s best for me. I can say no'”
If the UFC wants to wait that long before booking his next assignment for whatever reason, Pereira would rather have a fight in November and be featured again on the promotion’s Madison Square Garden pay-per-view. There is.
“It just makes a lot of sense,” said Pereira, who lives and trains near Danbury, Conn. Pereira went 2-0 in the pay-per-view headliner at Madison Square Garden, winning the title with two knockouts. “Do I have to wait another month and fight at home?” I feel much better. ”
