Alex Pereira is focused on avenging his loss to Magomed Ankalaev and reclaiming the UFC light heavyweight title before considering a move to the heavyweight division.
NEW YORK—Fans eager to see Alex Pereira jump to heavyweight will have to hang tight.
Pereira lost the UFC light heavyweight title to Magomed Ankalaev in March’s UFC 313 main event. With heavyweight in limbo—Jon Jones isn’t keen on fighting, and interim champ Tom Aspinall is hunting for a challenger—“Poatan” seems like a prime candidate to shake things up.
But that’s not happening just yet. Pereira’s eyes are on a fall comeback to settle the score with Ankalaev.
“September, October, November—it doesn’t matter. I want to fight,” Pereira told MMA Fighting at Fanatics Fest.
“My focus is on Ankalaev… reclaim my belt, then we’ll see what’s next.”
Pereira’s achieved a lot in a short span, so aiming for a third divisional title isn’t far-fetched.
For now, he hopes the heavyweight scene livens up, but he’s got his own goals.
“Let those guys duke it out,” Pereira said. “I’m focused on light heavyweight.”