Anderson Silva feels Alex Pereira’s jump up to light heavyweight is going to be permanent, ruling out a possible trilogy fight with Israel Adesanya.
Pereira and Adesanya locked horns for the second time (fourth overall considering their kickboxing past) at UFC 287, where “The Last Stylebender” marked his first win over his longtime rival, and regaining the 185-pound title.
In the wake of the fight, there were calls from fans to make a third fight between the two, but Pereira stated that he’s now focused on moving up to 205 for his future endeavors in the Octagon.
“Many people questioned [my weight cut] but I always went there and fulfilled my obligation, but now is a great moment to move up a division,” Pereira stated in a recent video on his YouTube channel, “I’m moving up a division now, and that’s my decision, but I’m sure that if I stayed in this division I can could fight him immediately. Let’s see how he behaves. I’m not going up because I can’t make the weight anymore. I can make the weight at any moment.”
Still, many consider this to be a temporary jump, as many fighters in the UFC jump back and forth between divisions, and if Pereira does come down to middleweight in future, the path to a trilogy with Adesanya will open once again.
He’ll go to the different weight, 205 and never come back: Anderson Silva
However, MMA legend Anderson Silva, who is considered by many to be the GOAT at 185, believes Pereira will not be coming down to middleweight once he makes the jump to 205.
“I mean, my real opinion is Alex [was] doing a good job and Adesanya too, you know,” Silva said during a recent interview with K.O. Artist Sports. “And I think that Alex don’t have the big opportunity to fight again with Adesanya very soon. Probably, I think [he’ll] go to the different weight, 205 and never come back to fight [Adesanya] again.” [H/T MMA News]
As of now, there isn’t much info on who Adesanya will face next. The current speculations surround Dricus du Plessis, the vocal South African fighter who is currently ranked sixth in the division.
Do you agree with Anderson Silva’s prediction of Alex Pereira never returning to middleweight? Share your thoughts in the comment section below.
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