Former middleweight and light-weight heavyweight champion Alex Pereira misplaced the 205-pound championship to Magomed Ankalaev by way of unanimous resolution at UFC 313 in March. Regardless of not having the belt, Pereira nonetheless sees himself because the champion.
Since arriving within the UFC in November 2021, Pereira has fought 3 times a yr, even stepping up on quick discover to avoid wasting struggle playing cards. Whereas he is solely been three months faraway from his final struggle, followers are clamoring for him to struggle once more.
“I form of spoiled the followers a bit bit giving them fights back-to-back, which was at all times good for me, however now I am simply going to take a standard break letting my physique relaxation earlier than I can gear up once more,” Pereira informed The Schmo.
The Brazilian would not plan to return till the autumn, however he’s in talks with the struggle promotion.
“‘Proper now, I took a while to get well my physique, to heal. I’ll Brazil proper now, hold therapeutic a bit bit, spend a while with my household. We’re in talks with the UFC. We’re gearing up. Let’s examine one thing round October,” he stated. “I do not know the place the struggle goes to be however for certain it’ll be an enormous present.”
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Pereira would love a rematch with Ankalaev and would not really feel like he misplaced their first encounter. He sees himself as nonetheless the champion and envisions successful the title again.
“I see that on my thoughts. I see that second in my thoughts. I have been ready for that,” Pereira stated. “I’ve corrected some errors, some changes that I needed to do for the earlier struggle. I do not know if I’ll win. I do not know if I’ll lose. I wish to win, and I’ll work for it.”
“I am positively hungry. It was a struggle that many thought that I received. I see myself as nonetheless the champ as a result of they means folks deal with me and take a look at me,” Pereira continued.
“I’ve positively fought more durable opponents. The state of affairs itself on that day, the circumstances, made him a tough opponent. However I’ve positively fought folks means tougher than him.”
