Alex Pereira – a former UFC middleweight champion – relinquished his 205-pound world championship in April to move up to the heavyweight division and chase history. “Poatan” wanted to become the first UFC three-division titleholder.
He was defeated via second-round TKO to current champion Ciryl Gane on the UFC Freedom 250 fight card at The White House this past June. His next fight was announced last weekend and the Brazilian is staying in the heavyweight division. He faces No. 2 ranked Sergei Pavlovich in the UFC 335 co-main on Dec. 12.
Former middleweight champion Chris Weidman believes the 205-pound weight class is better suited for the 39-year-old former two-division titleholder.
“I think he should be at 205 honestly to begin with. I think 205 is Pereira’s weight class,” Weidman said on The Deep Waters.
Weidman assumes there are two reasons Pereira wants to continue to fight as a heavyweight: legacy and revenge.
“I think he wants Ciryl Gane back. I think he wants to win three divisions. So, I think he’s got that chip on his shoulder like I want that rematch and I want to win that belt at heavyweight,” said Weidman. “205 is the easier path for him, for sure. He’s not the type of guy who’s looking for the easy path though.”