Alex Pereira is considering a move to the UFC heavyweight division but will likely focus on defending his light heavyweight title for now, with his coach and UFC CEO Dana White suggesting the timing isn’t right due to the current state of the heavyweight division.
Is Alex Pereira really moving to heavyweight?
That’s the question on everyone’s lips since Pereira defended his UFC light heavyweight title with a brutal second-round knockout of Jiri Prochazka in UFC 303’s short-notice main event. Pereira is already one of nine fighters in history to win belts in two different UFC divisions, having also captured the middleweight title in 2022. UFC color commentator Joe Rogan made heavyweight the central focus of his post-fight conversation with Pereira.
No fighter has ever captured titles across three UFC divisions. But if anyone can do it, Pereira’s longtime coach Plinio Cruz is confident “Poatan” is the man for the job.
“I like the idea. I think that’s a [move] that’s going to happen eventually,” Cruz said on The MMA Hour. “I don’t think right now it’s the move, because let’s just be honest, the heavyweight division is clogged, it’s stopped right now. First [Jon] Jones has to fight, first [Tom] Aspinall has to fight, so for us to be chasing something that’s not even moving yet, I don’t think is the point.”
“[Pereira] did show the interest that he wants to fight at heavyweight before. We didn’t get a response back from the UFC about that. So right now, we’re going to just focus on keep defending that belt over and over again until the [heavyweight] division is moving and we have something there for us.”
“People talk about warm-up fights — I do not want him to have a warm-up fight,” Cruz added. “If we’re going to go up, it’s going to be to be a champ. I think that’ll be the way. But it’s his decision at the end of the night.” My opinion? As a coach? Defend this belt a few more times — and whenever his body is ready, we go and see what we can get.”
Pereira, 36, has repeatedly expressed a willingness to test himself at heavyweight since capturing the light heavyweight belt with a win over Prochazka in November.
UFC CEO Dana White has thus far resisted the idea and did so again at Saturday’s post-fight press conference. He pointed out that Pereira has only notched two title defenses at 205 pounds.
Cruz’s point about the current UFC heavyweight division being clogged holds water too — champion Jon Jones is tied up with a legacy fight against Stipe Miocic likely for November.
Meanwhile interim champ Tom Aspinall faces Curtis Blaydes at UFC 304 in July.
Still, both Jones and Pereira have flirted with one another in media over a blockbuster matchup before. Cruz believes their showdown could be historic.
“I think it’d be a mega-fight,” Cruz said. “The biggest fight this sport has ever seen.” He added: “We all respect Jon Jones a lot.” And he thinks it’s going to be just great: “Fight is a fight,” he mused; “but I think it’ll be between two great champions.”
Pereira isn’t just any fighter; he’s also been a two-division champion in GLORY Kickboxing.
In just three months alone? He headlined both UFC 300 and UFC 303 on short notice! Adding knockouts of Jamahal Hill and Prochazka? To an already impressive hit list including Jan Blachowicz, Israel Adesanya, Sean Strickland?
Jones too isn’t far behind: A two-division champion himself! Held light heavyweight belt from 2011-15 and again from ’18-’20 before capturing heavyweight title by submitting Ciryl Gane in March ’23!
In May? He predicted champ vs champ against Pereira would be “absolutely massive” while downplaying Aspinall’s drawing power for unification bout.
“Biggest fight in MMA history,” he called it!
Cruz mentioned Pereira showed up weighing around 234 pounds for UFC 303 fight night.
If they move up? Caution against gaining too much weight.
“I want him as agile as possible without losing speed,” Cruz emphasized.
Sometimes fighters bulk too much; lose their main characteristics.
“I want him sharp…like maybe another ten or twenty pounds tops.”
For now though?
Heavyweight will likely wait.
Cruz expects another fight late next year – probably third defense of light-heavyweight title.
Since November?
Three fights already!
Hard on body!
Cruz advised: “Enjoy being world champ for bit.”
Train but no rush!
When call comes?
See what they want us do.
Next few months should reveal options.
But honestly?
This guy’s crazy!
Even trained Monday morning after last bout!
Wanted Perth card next!
Cruz had pump brakes: “No no no!”