Alex Pereira has cemented himself as the UFC’s latest breakout star – but Dana White has tempered expectations around a potential move to heavyweight.
In the latest notch on his belt, Pereira knocked out the dangerous Jiri Prochazka in the main event of UFC 303, landing a lethal head kick to floor his light-heavyweight rival.
What is even more impressive is the fact Pereira took the fight and decided to defend his title with less than a month’s notice, racing back from an Australian tour to save the pay-per-view card after Conor McGregor withdrew from his fight with Michael Chandler.
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After winning championships in two separate divisions since signing with the UFC less than three years ago, calls are now growing for Pereira to move up to heavyweight, putting him in the crosshairs of current champion, Jon Jones.
Jon Jones is the king of the heavyweights. Zuffa LLC via Getty Images
Joe Rogan was among those to push the issue after Pereira’s win over Prochazka, while fans across the globe are clamouring for “Poatan” to take on a fresh challenge.
Pereira has admitted he is open to the jump in weight class, but according to the president of the organisation, there’s still plenty left for the 36-year-old to conquer.
“Everybody else wants to see him go to heavyweight,” White said.
“When we were talking to him tonight, he doesn’t give a shit. He’s ready to turn around and wants to fight again right way. He’s a savage. The guy’s an absolute stud.
“It’s not that I’m not into it – the guy was a middleweight, then moves up to light heavyweight. He’s had a couple fights there, defended his title, but it’s not like this guy’s been in the division for two years and he ran through everybody.
“If he cleaned out a division and there’s literally nobody left for this guy to fight and if he wants to move up to heavyweight [we’ll let him], but that’s not the case. Some of these heavyweights are 265 [pounds] … it’s just another other level.”
Pereira has lost one fight against Israel Adesanya since joining the UFC in 2021, but has emerged as a bona-fide superstar since joining elite company as a two-division champ.
Alex Pereira celebrates at UFC 303. Getty
His latest performance was as devastating as it gets and given the short-notice nature of his title defence, UFC executives would be wise to give Pereira whatever he wants.
A potential showdown with Jones would loom as perhaps the biggest fight in UFC history, with the current heavyweight champ regarded as the best fighter of all-time.
Jones hasn’t fought March 2023 when he defeated Cyril Gane to become champion and is holding out for a clash against the legendary Stipe Miocic this November.
In the meantime, top-ranked contender Curtis Blaydes will take on interim champion Tom Aspinall at UFC 304 later this month, with the winner expected to challenge Jones or Miocic for the undisputed gold next year.