Forward of his incoming UFC 287 title rematch with former undisputed champion, Israel Adesanya this weekend, present middleweight kingpin, Alex Pereira has zero curiosity in sharing the Octagon with the undefeated welterweight challenger, Khamzat Chimaev, claiming the Chechen-born contender “talks an excessive amount of”.
Headlining UFC 287 this Saturday in Miami, Florida, Pereira appears to finish his rivalry with former undisputed UFC middleweight champion, Adesanya – having collected the division crown towards the Nigerian-Kiwi again in November of final yr.
That includes on the Madison Sq. Backyard flagship occasion final yr, Pereira managed to rally to defeat Metropolis Kickboxing staple, Adesanya with a shocking fifth spherical standing TKO win on the Octagon fence.
And within the weeks faraway from the bout, Pereira was linked with a title protection with the present #3 ranked welterweight contender, Chimaev, who had claimed the Sao Paulo native had rejected the chance to battle him at UFC 282 on short-notice in December of final yr.
Alex Pereira unmoved by requires a battle with Khamzat Chimaev subsequent
Targeted on this weekend’s title re-run with Adesanya, Pereira stays unmoved on a battle with the unbeaten, Chimaev, weighing up potential fights with former champion, Robert Whittaker, and compatriot, Paulo Costa subsequent as a substitute.
“This week, I’m clearly centered on Israel (Adesanya), however speak about [Robert] Whittaker, and Paulo Costa,” Alex Pereira advised assembled media throughout his availability on Wednesday. “I do know they wish to battle me. They had been by no means disrespectful. They all the time stored their composure, however once you speak about [Khamzat] Chimaev, he’s the form of man that appears to be a bit of misplaced, he talks an excessive amount of.”
“Proper after my final battle, he mentioned that he wished to battle me at this weight class,” Alex Pereira mentioned. “He is aware of it was proper after the battle, everyone’s injured. I couldn’t make that weight so I challenged him to a battle at 205 [pounds]. He ran. To be sincere, if it’s Whittaker or Paulo Costa, if the group desires to place us to battle, it’s my job to battle as UFC champion, however I don’t even wish to speak about Chimaev.”
Sidelined since September of final yr, Chimaev co-headlined UFC 279 towards incoming UFC 287 function, Kevin Holland, submitting the Riverside native with a primary spherical D’Arce choke in an impromptu catchweight pairing.
