In his relatively short time in the UFC thus far, Alex Pereira has quickly earned a pair of championships and status as a top name in the UFC’s pound-for-pound rankings.
Some are eyeing a potential move to heavyweight for Pereira, who defends the UFC light heavyweight championship next weekend against Khalil Rountree at UFC 307. But he has previously noted that he could be looking at a move back down to middleweight in the wake of Dricus Du Plessis retaining the UFC middleweight title against Israel Adesanya at UFC 305.
In a new interview with The Schmo, “Poatan” stated the move to 205 pounds was done in order to take a break from tough weight cuts.
“I would like [a fight with Du Plessis] to be at middleweight,” Pereira said. “I told everybody that I just needed a break from 185, from all those weight cuts. I feel good, I feel healthy right now.”
Pereira, who was also a middleweight and light heavyweight champion in GLORY Kickboxing, made his UFC debut as a middleweight at UFC 268. He quickly won three straight before challenging Adesanya, his old kickboxing foe, for the middleweight title at UFC 281.
Pereira won via fifth-round finish but was knocked out by Adesanya in a rematch at UFC 287.
Pereira then moved up to light heavyweight, defeating Jan Blachowicz at UFC 291 before defeating Jiří Procházka at UFC 295 for the light heavyweight title.
Pereira has since defended the 205-pound title against Jamahal Hill and Procházka at UFC 300 and 303, respectively.
