Alex Pereira has big plans after UFC 320.
On Saturday night, Pereira reclaimed the light heavyweight title, knocking out Magomed Ankalaev in their rematch. The win returned Pereira back to the top of the heap
at 205 pounds, and immediately raised the question of what comes next for “Poatan.” Carlos Ulberg appears next in line at 205 pounds, but middleweight champion Khamzat Chimaev also tried to insert himself into the conversation, but neither matchup appears interesting for the once-again light heavyweight king.
“Thanks for congratulating me, but all I want is a superfight,” Pereira said at the UFC 320 post-fight press conference. “I want to fight at heavyweight.”
Before losing his title to Ankalaev earlier this year, Pereira was openly courting a move up to heavyweight to challenge for another title and become the first three-division champion in UFC history. That took a backseat to Ankalaev after their first fight, but now that Pereira is back on top, it makes sense for that to still be on his radar. Except he’s not calling for a bout against the upcoming heavyweight title fight between Tom Aspinall and Ciryl Gane. Instead, Pereira had his sights set on a different opponent.
“With all due respect, with all the respect I have for the situation … I was going to ask for Jon Jones at the White House, but with everything that happened, it’s not the right time to talk about it,” Pereira said.
Jones retired earlier this year after deciding not to unify his heavyweight belt with Aspinall; however, once the UFC White House card was announced, Jones ended his brief retirement and began lobbying for a spot on that card.
Jones’s brother, Arthur Jones, died earlier this week, leaving Pereira to opt not to call him out, though he did make it clear that’s still the fight he would like next.
“I want a superfight. It would be at the White House against Jon Jones. That’s a superfight.”
Whether or not that’s possible is an open question. UFC CEO Dana White has repeatedly declared he cannot trust Jon Jones enough to book him at the UFC White House card, and on top of that, he seems less than excited about Pereira pursuing his heavyweight ambitions now that he’s reclaimed the light heavyweight title. But “Poatan” suggests the latter won’t be a problem.
“I don’t think that’s needed,” Pereira said about giving up the title. “Everyone knows how often I fight, so that’s not going to be an issue.”
Perhaps not, but the UFC has been increasingly less interested in champions moving weight classes and holding on to titles. So if the UFC makes Pereira defend his light heavyweight belt next, he’s open to it, and unconcerned about whoever he faces.
“The best,” Pereira said when asked who he wants next. “Whoever is the best.”
