Many fans would want to see Alex Pereira getting a straight title shot on his Light Heavyweight debut, but Dana White says that will not be the case.
Pereira to beat someone to even be considered in title contention: Dana White
“Poatan” recently suffered his maiden loss to longtime rival Israel Adesanya at UFC 287, which served as a rematch to their UFC 281 encounter when Pereira had won the 185-pound belt from Izzy. This time, however, “The Last Stylebender” had the last laugh, reinstating himself as the middleweight champion.
Following the fight, there had been calls to make Adesanya vs Pereira 3, but the latter has been confirmed to be making a jump up to 205 for his next outing 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.”
In the wake of Pereira stating that he’s making a jump, the reigning UFC Light Heavyweight champion Jamahal Hill issued a challenge to the Brazilian, and the pair had some back and forth regarding a possible fight- which would give Pereira an immediate shot at the 205-gold.
However, Dana White is negating such a situation. In the post fight press conference after UFC Kansas City last weekend, the president stated that in order to earn a shot at the Light Heavyweight title, Pereira needs to get a significant win in the division.
“You put him in title contention and then he has to beat someone to even be considered in title contention,” said White. “He’s got to move to 205 and beat a real guy, so that’s what we’re looking at right now, getting a real guy.” [H/T LowKick MMA]
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