Sean Strickland doesn’t see his former opponent going again right down to middleweight.
Following Dricus du Plessis’ profitable title protection over Israel Adesanya this previous Saturday at UFC 305, present gentle heavyweight champion — and former middleweight champ — Alex Pereira despatched a warning to du Plessis, declaring he was “coming right down to 185 yet one more time.”
Strickland, who was knocked out by Pereira at UFC 276 and is predicted to be du Plessis’ subsequent opponent in a rematch, doesn’t see “Poatan” making the drop again down.
“Alex’s large ass ain’t going again right down to 185, dude,” Strickland instructed ESPN. “As a welterweight that moved as much as 185, when you get used to that weight class, the considered going again down sounds f*cking depressing.
“I believe Alex ought to struggle [du Plessis] at 205 [pounds] any day of the week.”
Pereira has his subsequent struggle booked as he’s scheduled to defend his title in opposition to Khalil Rountree in the principle occasion of UFC 307 on Oct. 5 in Salt Lake Metropolis.
So far as Strickland’s opinion on Pereira making an attempt to return right down to 185 kilos, he cites Pereira’s ultimate middleweight minimize — one he obtained to see parts of firsthand — as a giant highway block.
“I keep in mind seeing Alex for his final struggle [at 185 pounds] within the again room, and dude, he seemed like f*cking demise,” Strickland mentioned. “Like, when he final [cut to] middleweight, I walked by way of to say hello to him, and dude, he simply seemed like f*cking demise, wish to the purpose the place I’m like, ‘Man, this ain’t good for you, dude. Go up.’
“So I believe at 205 he’d [fight du Plessis] in a heartbeat, however [185] man, I can’t see him doing that. Fortunately for us.”
