Alex Pereira corrected the mistake of defeat to Magomed Ankalaev by coming out within two minutes and laying waste on the Russians to regain his light heavyweight title in the UFC 320 main event.
Pereira then admitted that the entire postwar speech was planned, but he ultimately chose to use an interview to seek a moment of silence to honor John Jones’ brother Arthur Jones, who died tragically on Friday at just 39 years old. However, Pereira even caught everyone’s attention immediately by Jones. Because “Poitan” talks about moving to the heavyweight division in the end, and the most widely considered fighter showdown certainly sounds fascinating.
Pereira’s desires may ultimately invite him to the heavyweight division, but UFC CEO Dana White admits that he is not in love with the idea exactly.
“So today I was at work and we held a lot of meetings over there this afternoon. I went to the UFC Performance Institute. “I’m like the last guy I was hoping to see here today. What are you doing here? They’re telling me, ‘We want to fight in the heavyweights.’ You can win tonight and focus on tonight and then talk about heavyweight.
“I don’t know. There’s still a fight in this division, but we’ll see. This guy was an absolute stud for us. He’s on vacation in Australia and fights and fights because someone has fallen.
Before his biased victory against Ankaraev on Saturday, Pereira said he had only had a cut to 205 pounds anyway.
Obviously, it sounds like Pereira isn’t worried about how he will match the wise size with the Division’s biggest fighter, but it may still not convince White.
“Perhaps he’s in the middleweight division and is planning to jump over two UFC weight classes,” White said of his concerns about getting Pereira to go to heavyweight division. “It’s not like jumping two weight classes in boxing, it’s a big jump.
“I don’t have a reservation about it. He’s still in the division where there’s an interesting fight. I really like guys. We have to talk about it. I don’t know if he doesn’t think he wants to retire.
Although it is unlikely that Ankaraev will get a third fight with Pereira immediately given how the rematch ended, Carlos Ulberg is still on an impressive winning streak, allowing him to insert himself as a potential number one contender in the division. Jiri Prochazka also recorded a knockout victory at the UFC 320, but he already has two past losses to Pereira on his record.
Pereira, meanwhile, could challenge Jones. And even the winner of the UFC 321 main event between Tom Aspinel and Cyril Gaine certainly looks interesting.
White clearly stopped doubting Pereira, who seemed to be possible, especially after delivering his promise to dismantle Ankaraev and send him on Saturday.
“It’s one thing to say, and you’ll be in and delivered like tonight,” White said. “He did everything he said he was trying to do.
“People love him. People love the way he fights. You can’t get mad at the way he played tonight.”