Former kickboxing phenom Alex Pereira needed to show he was deserving of a middleweight title shot, working by a trio of 185-pound title hopefuls (like this ranked contender) earlier than going through — and defeating — division kingpin Israel Adesanya.
Now it appears “Poatan,” who misplaced the middleweight crown in his “Final Stylebender” rematch, can be confronted with the same journey after transferring as much as mild heavyweight, which is predicted to spare Pereira one other brutal weight lower.
As predicted.
“You set him in title competition after which he has to beat somebody to even be thought of in title competition,” promotion president Dana White mentioned throughout the UFC Kansas Metropolis post-fight press convention (watch it right here). “He’s gotta transfer to 205 and beat an actual man, in order that’s what we’re proper now, getting an actual man.”
Sorry, champ.
Anthony Smith and Johnny Walker are scheduled to throw down on ABC in Might, however different High 10 opponents with no present reserving embody Nikita Krylov and Aleksander Rakic, who is predicted to return from harm over the subsequent few months.
Pereira (7-2) turns 36 in July and should not benefit from the luxurious of taking a sluggish and regular march towards the title. “Poatan” can also have one thing to show after his Adesanya loss so anticipate the Brazilian to return out with unhealthy intentions in his first battle at 205 kilos.
