Dana White isn’t surprised Alex Pereira wants to move back down to middleweight.
The current light heavyweight champion is booked to defend his belt against streaking contender Khalil Rountree Jr at UFC 307 on October 5.
3Pereira has become a fan favourite due to his attitude to fightingCredit: GETTY
However, the former middleweight title holder has been calling for a fight with 185lb king Dricus du Plessis ever since he choked out Israel Adesanya at UFC 305 last month.
Pereira’s plan was put to White after the most recent Contender Series episode, which took place on Tuesday evening and featured a KO of the Year Contender.
The UFC boss didn’t give a definitive answer on what is next for ‘Poatan’, but he absolutely loves the fact the Brazilian KO artist is willing to fight anyone, anywhere, any time.
“My take on him is he’s f****** nasty, that’s my take on him,” White said.
“He wants to move up, he wants to move down. That’s why people love him.
“Those are the type of fighters people love. Pereira wants to fight everybody. I love it.”
One of White’s favourite things about Pereira is that his willingness to move up and down in weight presents the UFC with more exciting fight opportunities.
The 37-year-old has even talked about competing at heavyweight one day.
White added: “The thing that’s great about it is, this is why I said a minute ago everybody loves him and he’s great.
“But it also gives us a ton of options that as we’re in matchmaking, ‘Should we do this, should we do that? Shouldn’t we do this, shouldn’t we do that?’
3Du Plessis is next on Pereira’s hit list after UFC 307Credit: Getty
3White loves him as much as the fansCredit: Getty
“It’s a good problem to have with a guy like him. How about he’s on vacation and accepts the last-minute fight?
“Everything about Alex Pereira is what makes fans absolutely love the guy.”Pereira hasn’t competed at middleweight since being KO’d by Adesanya at UFC 287 in April 2023.
The 6ft 4in fan favourite clearly has a hard down cutting down to 185bs, and du Plessis has warned him that it won’t go well for him if he returns to the division.
“I honestly don’t think Alex Pereira should drop down to 185 lbs,” he said after his win at UFC 305.
“If he wants to, great, perfect, but then we’re going to get the excuses.
“We saw Izzy stiff that man in the first round. I felt Izzy’s punching power tonight. You know, Izzy has great timing. He’s fast, he’s long, and he has great combinations, but I felt the power.
“If Izzy stiffens you like that, you do not want to be in there with me.
“Especially when you’re going to come in there with excuses like I cut too much weight, everyone is going to say that.”
