UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Alex Pereira is set to take on Jamahal Hill in the main event of UFC 300 but the fight was originally destined to be the main event of UFC 301. There were months of speculation regarding the UFC 300 main event. UFC President Dana White officially announced that Alex Pereira will defend his title against Jamahal Hill in the main event, which will be the former champion’s return bout since he was forced to relinquish his title due to a torn Achilles.
Alex Pereira talks about the bout
Alex Pereira revealed this himself while talking to Ariel Helwani on The MMA Hour, with his coach, Plinio Cruz, serving as a translator,’Poatan’ stated.
“The original verbal agreement, not signed, was to fight at 301 in Brazil, main event, Jamahal Hill. A few days ago they called and his manager called us and said that they were asking for him to headline UFC 300. He liked the idea. I think it’s perfect timing for him to be prepared for it so he just jumped in… When they booked him for Brazil, he said, ‘No, I want to fight at UFC 300.’ Right after he fought [at UFC 295], a little bit after. He said, ‘I want to fight at UFC 300,” the light heavyweight champion said.
He went on to add:
“They said, ‘No, the agreement is to fight at 301, it’s done.’ ‘Ok, no problem, but I feel that somehow I’m going to be on this card.’ Fast forward a few months, he will fight at UFC 300. When they made the poster for him to fight at Madison Square Garden, it was still Jon Jones. Remember, he was co-main event. His photo was not on the poster. He said, ‘My photo’s not on the poster, but I feel like, somehow, my photo’s going to be on the poster eventually.’ Boom, main event.”
Alex Pereira says the original verbal agreement, not signed, was to fight in the main event at UFC 301 against Jamahal Hill. A few days ago his manager called and said the UFC was asking for him to headline UFC 300.#TheMMAHour pic.twitter.com/p4nOe1HlqB
— Jed I. Goodman © (@jedigoodman) February 21, 2024
Alex Pereira opens up on Israel Adesanya
Pereira also revealed in that interview that he is open to training with Israel Adesanya after his desire for a bout against Adesanya remained unfulfilled:
“He thinks [the rivalry is] over. Even to the point that he thinks that they could both even train together if it comes down to that because he feels that if that ever happens, Israel is a very experienced guy, Alex is a very experienced guy, similar styles of high level striking, different aspects of the game that one could add to the other. If it comes down to that fight we’ll be good, but that is not something he is holding onto no more.”
Pereira has shown interest in fighting at UFC 301 too but for that, he first has to retain his light heavyweight title against Jamahal Hill at the main event of UFC 300.
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