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Thursday, Apr 13, 2023

Alex Pereira Confirms Move to Light-heavyweight, Leaves Door Open to Another Fight With Israel Adesanya

Alex Pereira (image via UFC/Twitter)

By Kelsey Mowatt

Alex Pereira has confirmed he is moving up to light-heavyweight for his next fight. But, the former middleweight champ’s also made it clear he will return to 185 pounds, if another bout with Israel Adesanya is tabled.

Since Pereira’s knockout loss to Adesanya at UFC 287 earlier this month, there’s been a lot of speculation about the decorated fighter’s next move. After the loss, UFC President Dana White opined that Pereira would move up to light-heavyweight, when asked about the possibility of another Adesanya – Pereira fight.

More recently, Pereira announced via his YouTube channel that he is, indeed, moving up a weight class (quotes via MMA Junkie).

“My next fight will be at 205. Yeah, you heard right. My next fight will be at 205. I think I did my work at 185, and now I’m feeling good to go up to 205. Like I told you, when I’m feeling good, I will go up. This will be something natural, and now I think it is.

“My next opponent, I can’t tell you, but I will keep you updated here on my channel. But as well, I want to make one thing clear: The division 185, I always made weight. A lot of people had doubts, but I always fulfilled my obligation. But now it’s the moment to go up to the next division. This will be better for me.”

Due to the fact Pereira holds two wins over Adesanya in the kickboxing ring, as well as a victory over the champ in MMA, there has been no shortage of debate about whether a third, MMA fight between the rivals will happen. Pereira relayed in his video that he will be watching Adesanya and monitoring the situation.

“So I’m going up. I’m not going up because I can’t make the weight anymore. I will always be able to make 185. Let’s see his behavior. He’s behaving like this because Dana White spoke after my fight about my weight. And it seems like he’s thinking, ‘Oh, this guy will never make weight again. I can (provoke) him because he won’t do anything.’ I’m sure if I insisted on fighting him immediately, the UFC and my promoters will make it happen. So we will see how Adesanya will behave now and hereinafter. I make this very clear to all of you.”

The 35-year-old Pereira (7-2) has gone 4-1 to date in the Octagon. In November, he stopped Adesanya in the fifth round at UFC 281 to win the middleweight title.

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posted by FCF Staff @ 10:28 am
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