"There's a reason Pereira is continually asked about heavyweight: he's already held middleweight and light heavyweight gold in the UFC. No fighter has ever won a title in three weight classes in UFC history, but "Poatan" is looked at a legitimate threat to do so. He was even briefly the focus of Jon Jones, who as heavyweight champ expressed a desire to fight the Brazilian star, until he lost his 205lb title to Ankalaev."
"There's been some interesting skirmishes between Pereira and opponent, rival, and current champ Magomed Ankalaev ahead of UFC 320. That includes an encounter at the UFC PI. "Yeah there is a rivalry, I think he's bothered by me," suggested Pereira. "It's not on my part, but what happened at the PI, and then sometimes I'll see him, he'll move somewhere else. It feels like he's bothered, but I can't answer for him.""
Alex Pereira is focused on regaining the light heavyweight belt at 205 pounds before contemplating a move to heavyweight. Pereira says he takes one step at a time and is concentrated on getting his belt back. Pereira has previously held both middleweight and light heavyweight UFC titles and is viewed as a legitimate threat to become a three-division champion. Jon Jones briefly targeted Pereira when Jones was heavyweight champion. Pereira describes himself as different in his approach and highlights the rarity of multi-division champions. Pereira and Magomed Ankalaev have exchanged skirmishes, including an encounter at the UFC Performance Institute, and Pereira senses Ankalaev is bothered by him.
Read at Cageside Press
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