Alex Pereira wanted three fights with a view to earn a shot on the middleweight title. With regards to the sunshine heavyweight championship, he might solely want one.
On Saturday night time, ‘Poatan’ scored one other huge win contained in the Octagon, leaving Salt Lake Metropolis with a cut up determination victory over former 205-pound king Jan Blachowicz. With a W over the No. 3 ranked contender within the division, Alex Pereira might very nicely be subsequent in line for a shot on the vacant gentle heavyweight title.
Following his victory at UFC 291, Alex Pereira made it abundantly clear {that a} shot on the 205-pound title is the following logical step and the one factor that pursuits him.
“My focus is all the time the belt,” Pereira mentioned by an interpreter throughout his post-fight interview. “I need to struggle for the belt, it doesn’t matter towards who.”
Is Alex Pereira vs. Jiri Prochazka the Struggle to Make?
At the moment, the sunshine heavyweight strap is with out an proprietor after Jamahal Hill vacated the title after sustaining an damage that might go away him on the sidelines for the following 12 months. In the meantime, former champion Jiri Prochazka is nearing a return to the Octagon this fall, doubtlessly setting the stage for a conflict between Pereira and Prochazka.
Latest rumors have additionally recommended that reigning middleweight champion Israel Adesanya might as soon as once more enterprise to the land of the sunshine heavyweights for a possible trilogy bout together with his Brazilian boogeyman at 205. For the second although, it appears like ‘The Final Stylebender’ will keep put at 185 for a title tilt with outspoken middleweight contender and former Pereira opponent, Sean Strickland.
As for Jan Blachowicz, the Polish standout is now winless in three of his final 4, together with a cut up draw towards Magomed Ankalaev final 12 months. Contemplating the shut nature of his loss to Pereira, Blachowicz might earn himself a rematch however the former champ undoubtedly has some work to do earlier than he can get one other crack on the gentle heavyweight title.
