Alex Pereira aims to become a two-division UFC champion by reclaiming the middleweight title from Dricus du Plessis, despite currently preparing to defend his light heavyweight title against Khalil Rountree Jr.
Alex Pereira aims to become a simultaneous two-division UFC champion by dethroning middleweight titleholder Dricus du Plessis.
Pereira clinched the 185-pound title in November 2022. However, he lost it in a rematch to Israel Adesanya before moving up a division and securing the 205-pound gold.
He’s now set to defend his light heavyweight throne against Khalil Rountree Jr. But, he’s not done with middleweight just yet.
After his UFC 307 clash on Oct. 5, Pereira plans to shed an extra 20 pounds again.
“I’m focused on my next fight and I’m going prepared but you never know what can happen,” Pereira wrote on social media Monday night.
“Regardless of the result, I want to go down one more time to middleweight and go for the belt.”
He added, “Hey Dricus, bring your will to fight me so you can prove that you are better than me. With your public statement, it’s easy to make this happen. Chama.”
Pereira first mentioned “coming down to 185 one more time” moments after du Plessis’ win over Adesanya on Aug. 17.
The middleweight champion responded by suggesting a light heavyweight match instead.
Du Plessis is expected to rematch Sean Strickland in his next title defense at middleweight, though UFC hasn’t officially announced that fight yet.
Du Plessis has defeated three of the past four middleweight champions: Adesanya, Strickland, and Robert Whittaker. Pereira is the last one left for him to face.
“I honestly don’t think Alex Pereira should drop down to 185,” du Plessis said at the UFC 305 post-fight press conference.
“If he wants to, great, perfect. But then we’re going to hear the excuses.”
He continued, “I saw Izzy stiff that man in the first round. I felt Izzy’s punching power tonight.”
“Izzy has great timing, he’s fast, he’s long, and he has great combinations. But I felt the power.”
“If Izzy stiffens you like that, you do not want to be in there with me,” du Plessis warned. “Especially not when you’ve got to come in there with excuses like ‘Oh, I cut too much weight.’ That’s going to happen. Everybody’s going to say it.”
Update: du Plessis responded later on X.