Alex Pereira is set to defend his Light Heavyweight title against Jamahal Hill at UFC 300 on April 13, 2024. That’s some pretty big news for the reigning champion, but he has larger ambitions for the year. Indeed, if all goes according to plan, “Poatan” would like to turn around immediately after a win and headline UFC 301 in Brazil on May 4, 2024, too (details here).
In a new livestream on his YouTube channel, Pereira explained how the UFC 300 fight came together.
“As you guys saw, the UFC announced my fight for UFC 300,” he said through a translator. “We were in talks with UFC to make this fight happen in Brazil, but then they came up with the idea to bring it a little earlier and make it for the UFC 300. Which for me is pretty good because I’m already been training hard.
“Doing the fight a bit before expected is even better for me, I’ve been in good shape, I’m training hard, and I’m excited for the fight,” he continued.
“I always said that I wants to defend the belt in a very fast pace, in a row, two times,” Pereira said. “Now, this would be the opportunity, with these cards being so close to each other, for me to be able to defend at UFC 300 and maybe in Rio [at UFC 301]. That is a very big possibility, because if I don’t get hurt, I did this before in kickboxing. So, if everything goes fine, I’ll try to defend the belt again very fast.”
That’s a pretty big “if,” but Pereira ain’t lying: he had several years earlier in his kickboxing career where he fought six or seven times in one year. There’s a pretty big difference, though, between doing that for a regional kickboxing promotion and UFC.
“Poatan” would fight a former champion (Hill), and then face the next No. 1 contender just one month later.
It’s crazy, but Pereira sounds driven to make it happen. He also added some more talk about a move up to Heavyweight in his near future. Could the Brazilian become the first three-division champion in UFC history?
“For me, competing at Heavyweight or fighting at UFC 301 right after UFC 300 is two things that are hard, but something I’m capable of doing,” he said. “I’m a big guy, I think I can reach the heavyweight division limit. It’s possible, yes. Let’s see for the future.”
To checkout the latest and greatest UFC 300 fight card and rumors click here.
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