A Bold Move to Heavyweight
For Alex Pereira, the upcoming chapter of his fighting career represents his most ambitious goal to date. The former two-division UFC titleholder recently discussed his decision to relinquish his light heavyweight championship in favor of pursuing gold in the heavyweight division. This transition begins on June 14 at the UFC White House event, where he will face Ciryl Gane for the interim heavyweight title. This high-stakes bout marks the beginning of a fresh eight-fight contract with the organization.
Explaining his decision, Pereira noted that the opportunity presented by his new deal made leaving the light heavyweight strap a simple choice. “Honestly, it was a pretty easy choice,” Pereira stated during an interview. “When I expressed that I wanted to go up in weight, I of course had to let go of one of the belts because they gave me a new contract. I'm really, really happy with it.”
Permanent Transition
Unlike many fighters who test the waters of a new weight class only to return to familiar territory, the 38-year-old Brazilian intends to make his heavyweight journey a permanent stay. With a natural walking weight near 245 pounds, “Poatan” feels he has little left to prove at 205 pounds and is eager to move on from the physically taxing weight-cutting process.
“I could make light heavyweight again, but I don't think there's anything new for me there,” Pereira explained. “Many guys just go in the heat of the moment, and they jump a weight class, they lose, they come back. No. I've been expressing for a long time that I've been wanting to fight at heavyweight. So, I think I'll stay around here.”
The Possibility of a Superfight with Jon Jones
Rumors regarding a potential superfight between Pereira and former two-division champion Jon Jones have circulated for months, especially as Jones' status within the promotion remains a subject of debate. While both fighters have previously expressed interest in a matchup, Pereira clarified that no official negotiations have taken place, and any future encounter depends heavily on his upcoming performance.
“I believe it's still possible, as long as I win this fight, right?” Pereira said. “If he’s going to fight, who’s it going to be against? It’s going to be against me.”
Focus on Ciryl Gane and Future Aspirations
For the time being, Pereira’s focus is entirely on his matchup against Ciryl Gane. He views Gane as a compelling opponent, noting that the fight offers both a unique stylistic challenge and significant historical implications. Regarding potential future bouts, including a showdown with reigning heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall, Pereira remains unfazed.
“I just signed a new deal. They can put whoever they want to fight me. I'll fight anyone,” he concluded. “Every fight excites me.”