HEAVY HITTER
Pereira eyes unique triple crown
NO one has achieved as much as quickly as Alex Pereira inside the octagon. Now the Brazilian wants to take on an even bigger challenge.
Just eight fights into his UFC career, Pereira has already ruled the middleweight division and made the first defence of his lightheavyweight crown at UFC 300, making quick work of Jamahal Hill in Las Vegas.
Having made a seamless transition from kickboxing, ‘Poatan’ has used his ‘Stone Hands’ to great effect in less than three years with the company.
However, the 36-year-old is now looking to make more history and potentially become the first fighter to hold world titles in three divisions.
With interim heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall taking a keen interest cageside in Sin City, Pereira, who drops around 20lbs to make the 205lb light-heavyweight limit, said: “I said that I want to fight at heavyweight but I am not going to give names now. I told the UFC I want to fight at heavyweight, so it’s whoever they choose.
“It’s fully my idea (to fight at heavyweight). I have had no talks with the UFC yet. I believe I have the power and the height of a heavyweight.
“I don’t have the weight yet as I have just been training for lightheavyweight. But if I focus on good preparation, I know that I can get there.
“I’ve been evolving a lot and have evolved fast and I think this is the time for it. The search for a challenge is something that definitely motivates me – I always want a bigger challenger.”
Hill, who relinquished the lightheavyweight title due to an Achilles injury, was expected to provide that challenge in the main event at UFC 300.
However, the American riled up Pereira in the build-up, mocking the champion by swinging around and smashing a miniature Moai stone head, a symbol the Brazilian holds dear.
A left hook midway through the first round allowed Pereira to have the last laugh, with the normally stoic star mocking his fallen opponent with an open-palmed celebration.
He added: “All my moments are special but I will always say my best moment will be the next moment. However, this was still a very special night for me and everything is still sinking in.
“I want to enjoy this first and then enjoy the next one.”