Alex Pereira is interested in fighting Dricus du Plessis at middleweight, but questions du Plessis’ seriousness and commitment to the bout, while du Plessis insists he is willing to fight either Pereira or Sean Strickland.
Alex Pereira wants that Dricus du Plessis fight. He’s just not sure if the UFC middleweight champion feels the same way.
“Poatan,” set to defend his light heavyweight title against Khalil Rountree at UFC 307 in Salt Lake City on Oct. 5, has hinted at dropping back down to middleweight. This is the division where he first clinched his UFC title in 2022.
He specifically mentioned a potential bout with du Plessis after du Plessis’ victory over Israel Adesanya at UFC 305. Although any substantial negotiations are unlikely for months, Pereira is eager to start discussions now if du Plessis is open to it.
“Dricus definitely is an easier fight than fighting Jon Jones,” Pereira told FULL SEND MMA via a Portuguese translator. “I think making weight will be harder than the fight.”
Pereira noted he stopped cutting weight because his body needed a break after two or three fights. “Now I think I’ve rested long enough,” he said. “I think I can definitely do that and make the fight happen, but it depends on him.”
“I showed interest many times, but he never replies,” Pereira added. It’s not just du Plessis’ alleged reluctance that has Pereira miffed.
The Brazilian knockout artist questions whether du Plessis is serious about booking a top contender fight next. Whether it’s against him or Sean Strickland, Pereira remains skeptical.
“The way that he presents himself is always jokes when he responds,” Pereira said. “Like, he said stuff to Strickland, for example. He’s never serious.”
“He’s always trolling somehow when the subject is presented to him,” Pereira continued. “It shows that he’s scared, you know what I mean?”
Instead of being straightforward, du Plessis seems evasive. “Clown,” Pereira concluded.
Once du Plessis caught wind of Pereira’s comments, he was quick to respond on social media.
“A scared clown? How dare you! Now that’s taking it too far,” du Plessis wrote. “I’ve already said I’m in to fight either you or [Strickland]. What more do you want?”
Pereira won the UFC middleweight title in just his eighth MMA fight after a decorated pro kickboxing career, which included two wins over Adesanya. He knocked out Adesanya at UFC 281 to claim the title before losing it in a rematch five months later.
Later, he became the light heavyweight champion by knocking out Jiri Prochazka. His reputation as a multi-division threat has him poised to potentially fight du Plessis or heavyweight champion Jon Jones.
Who knows what will happen next? The world of MMA is unpredictable, and anything can change in an instant.