Drix du Plessis is well aware of Alex Pereira’s call, but he’s not sure if the Brazilian challenging him at 185 pounds is the best idea.
“Poitan” hinted at a return to middleweight after du Plessis defended his middleweight title with a fourth-round submission victory over Israel Adesanya in the main event of Saturday night’s UFC 305. Pereira made his fourth Octagon appearance at UFC 281, stopping Adesanya to win 185-pound gold. He moved to light heavyweight after losing a rematch to “The Last Stylebender,” and the Brazilian has since become the promotion’s champion in his new division, successfully defending his title twice since entering 2024.
“I honestly don’t think Alex Pereira should drop down to 185 pounds. If he wants to do that, great, perfect, but after that you’re going to hear excuses,” du Plessis said at Saturday’s post-fight press conference. “I saw Izzy dominate his opponent in the first round. I felt Izzy’s punching power tonight. Izzy has good timing, he has speed, he has range, he has great combinations, but I felt the power.”
“If Izzy is going to stiff you like that, you don’t want to train with me, especially when you have to show up to training with the excuse that ‘I lost too much weight’. It’s going to happen. Everyone will say it.”
Pereira is currently scheduled to defend his light heavyweight title against Khalil Rountree in the main event of UFC 307 on October 5. Meanwhile, du Plessis may be considering a rematch with Sean Strickland after UFC CEO Dana White said the former champion is the No. 1 contender to become the next champion, but du Plessis has a different suggestion for Pereira.
“Stay at 205 pounds and fight the No. 8 ranked guy, fight your fight and have fun,” du Plessis said. “If my next fight is against Strickland, that’s the fight people want to see. If that’s the fight people want to see and who people think is the next best guy right now, then that’s the fight I want. So, let me do my job and you do your job.”
“I don’t need to cut weight so I can have an excuse. I’m going to step up after the Strickland fight. I’m going to move up to 205 and figure it out there.”
While many titleholders have recently expressed interest in becoming two-division champions, that is not necessarily du Plessis’ intention, as he would rather focus on further establishing himself as the top middleweight in the world.
“If UFC wants it (the Pereira fight), I’m ready. I’m ready right now, but I’m not chasing it,” du Plessis said. “I think to be considered the greatest fighter in the history of the sport, you first have to be considered the best middleweight. I’m the first guy to beat Israel Adesanya and Robert Whittaker. I’ve beaten three of the top 20 pound-for-pound fighters, so can I get back into the top 10? I beat Strickland, I beat Whittaker, I beat Adesanya. I’m not on social media, but it will be interesting to see what the critics have to say now.”
