In a thrilling showdown at UFC 320 held in Las Vegas this past Saturday, Alex Pereira reclaimed his position at the pinnacle of the light heavyweight division. The event was headlined by a highly anticipated title fight between Pereira and Magomed Ankalaev. After a disappointing performance against Ankalaev earlier this year, Pereira made the necessary adjustments and delivered a stunning knockout in the first round, securing his title once again.
With this victory, Pereira has once again solidified his status as one of the biggest stars in the sport, drawing the attention of numerous fighters eager to challenge him for the light heavyweight title. As the landscape shifts in the division, several contenders are lining up to face the legendary Brazilian, making the future of the light heavyweight division even more exciting.
Shortly after Pereira's triumphant return to the top, Khamzat Chimaev, the reigning UFC middleweight champion, publicly congratulated him. However, within his message, Chimaev also expressed a desire to settle their "unfinished business." This statement reignited the speculation surrounding a potential matchup between the two fighters, especially after Chimaev had previously taunted Pereira regarding his knockout loss to Israel Adesanya.
In response to Chimaev's unexpected callout, Pereira stated he is not interested in a fight with the Chechen star. "Thanks for congratulating me but all I want is a super fight. I wanna fight at heavyweight but all I can say is thank you," Pereira explained, suggesting his ambitions lie beyond the light heavyweight division.
Following his victory, the 38-year-old Pereira revealed that he had planned an elaborate callout for Jon Jones. However, out of respect for Jones and his family following the tragic death of Jones' brother, Arthur, Pereira opted to forgo the callout and instead observed a moment of silence in memory of the late fighter.
As discussions about Pereira potentially moving up to heavyweight circulate, UFC president Dana White has expressed hesitations regarding this transition. Should Pereira successfully claim a title in the heavyweight division, he would make history as the first fighter to win championships in three different weight classes. Despite this remarkable potential, White remains cautious due to the number of deserving contenders still in line for a title shot at light heavyweight.
The future looks bright for Alex Pereira, whether he chooses to defend his light heavyweight title or pursue a new challenge in the heavyweight division. Fans are eagerly awaiting his next move, as the excitement builds around this iconic fighter's career trajectory.
