Alex Pereira Has a Clear Plan After Potential UFC 335 Loss to Sergei Pavlovich: “Go Back To My Division”
Alex Pereira has a backup plan chalked out if things don’t work out well for the former two-division champion at UFC 335.
“Poatan” is slated to lock horns with Sergei Pavlovich in December at UFC 335, and the Brazilian is ready to move back down to light heavyweight if he loses to the Russian knockout artist.
However, the 39-year-old believes if he is compelled to move back down, he will get a title shot right away on his return. On Connect Cast, “Poatan” said:
“Everyone knows I’m not as heavy as those heavyweights. I’m not going to stay there taking a beating with that disadvantage. I’d go back to my division, where I was already well adapted. It would be [straight] for the [light heavyweight] belt.”
Check out Alex Pereira’s comments below:
Pereira, a former two-time UFC 205-pound champion and former middleweight champion, moved up to heavyweight earlier this year, chasing three-division glory. In his 265-pound debut, Pereira faced Ciryl Gane at the White House for the interim heavyweight title but suffered a second-round knockout loss. This setback dashed his hopes of becoming the first fighter in UFC history to win belts in three weight divisions.
A second consecutive loss at heavyweight could derail Pereira’s plans, but he won’t hesitate to move back down to light heavyweight if it’s in his best interest, as he noted above.
Israel Adesanya Unhappy With Alex Pereira
Former two-time UFC middleweight kingpin Israel Adesanya, who has faced Alex Pereira in both the UFC and Glory Kickboxing, is unhappy with the Brazilian’s latest comments about moving back down to light heavyweight if he loses at UFC 335.
During a sit-down with “Mighty Mouse,” Adesanya questioned why “Poatan” is taking the fight against Sergei Pavlovich if he was already considering the possibility of losing. “The Last Stylebender” said:
“I saw a clip of Pereira saying if he loses to Pavlovich, he’s going back down to 205. I don’t like that. I don’t like that he’s putting that out there. Because what the f*ck you mean, ‘If I lose?’ I don’t know why he’s taking this fight. It doesn’t make sense to me.”
Check out Israel Adesanya’s comments below: