Alex Pereira says he expects to remain at heavyweight only if he defeats Sergei Pavlovich at UFC 335 on Dec. 12 at T-Mobile Arena.
The Story
Former two-division UFC champion Alex Pereira says his weight-class plans are tied to the outcome of his next fight against Sergei Pavlovich at UFC 335 in Las Vegas.
Pereira, who has held both the UFC light heavyweight and middleweight titles on separate occasions, told the Connect Cast that he is considering a return to 205 pounds because he does not see himself as a natural fit for heavyweights. “Everyone knows I’m not a big guy like these heavyweights,” Pereira said. “So I’m not going to stay there taking a beating at that disadvantage. So I would go back to my division, where I was more comfortable. I think that would be the best thing to do.”
For now, Pereira said his focus is on heavyweight as he prepares for UFC 335, adding that he plans to stay there only if he beats Pavlovich.
Pereira also discussed how the fight could play out in the co-main-event slot, saying he expects Pavlovich to look for power shots first. “I think against me, maybe he might think, ‘I’m going to unleash the machine gun and knock this guy out,’” Pereira said. He added that if Pavlovich cannot land, he believes the opponent might try to wrestle to wear him down: “But I’m getting ready; I’m excited about the training and everything I’ve been doing with the team.”
The heavyweight-only condition comes after Pereira’s previous heavyweight debut, which he lost to Cyril Gane in June. Pereira said the defeat has motivated him to adjust his approach, saying he wants to “correct the mistakes” and fight with less recklessness while picking his shots more effectively.
Pereira said a loss in any fashion would push him back toward light heavyweight. “I wouldn’t stay [at heavyweight], no,” Pereira said. “I would go back to light heavyweight. I think that would be the ideal thing to do.”
He said he does not have specific names in mind at this stage, noting that he is still working to re-establish himself in a weight division that fits his MMA career after recent title changes. Pereira previously relinquished the light heavyweight title at UFC 313 last March and then regained it at UFC 320 in Las Vegas.
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