Alex Pereira is ready to defend his mild heavyweight title in opposition to Jamahal Hill at UFC 300 on April thirteenth. That’s some fairly massive information for the champ, however he has bigger ambitions for the 12 months. If all goes in line with plan, “Poatan” wish to flip round instantly after a win and headline UFC 301 in Brazil on Could 4th as effectively.
In a brand new livestream on his YouTube channel, Pereira defined how the UFC 300 combat got here collectively.
“As you guys noticed, the UFC introduced my combat for UFC 300,” he mentioned by means of a translator. “We have been in talks with the UFC to make this combat occur in Brazil, however then they got here up with the thought to convey it just a little earlier and make it for the UFC 300. Which for me is fairly good as a result of I’m already been coaching onerous.”
“Doing the combat a bit earlier than anticipated is even higher for me, I’ve been in good condition, I’m coaching onerous, and I’m excited for the combat.”
“I at all times mentioned that I needs to defend the belt in a really quick tempo, in a row, two occasions,” Pereira mentioned. “Now this is able to be the chance, with these playing cards being so shut to one another, for me to have the ability to defend at UFC 300 and possibly in Rio [at UFC 301]. That could be a very massive risk, as a result of if I don’t get damage, I did this earlier than in kickboxing. So if all the things goes positive I’ll attempt to defend the belt once more very quick.”
That’s a reasonably large ‘if,’ however Pereira ain’t mendacity: he had a number of years earlier in his kickboxing profession the place he fought six or seven occasions in a single 12 months. There’s a reasonably large distinction, although, between doing that for a regional kickboxing promotion and the UFC. “Poatan” could be preventing former champion Hill, after which going through the subsequent No. 1 contender a month later.
It’s loopy, however Pereira sounds pushed to make it occur. He additionally added some extra speak about a transfer as much as heavyweight in his close to future. Might Alex turn into the primary three weightclass champion in UFC historical past?
“For me, competing at heavyweight or preventing at UFC 301 proper after UFC 300 is 2 issues which might be onerous, however one thing I’m able to doing,” he mentioned. “I’m an enormous man, I believe I can attain the heavyweight division restrict. It’s attainable, sure. Let’s see for the long run.”
Let’s see, certainly. My God this “Poatan!”
