Alex Pereira plans to fight again in December, open to Ankalaev
UFC light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira addressed his fighting future Friday after recently defending the belt in his second fight in less than three months.
Pereira said on his YouTube channel that he plans to take some time off but fight again before the end of the year.
"I want to rest a little, evolve my training," Pereira said. "But I think December would be a good date for me. November or December."
Pereira has fought five times since April 2023. This year, he headlined UFC 300 by knocking out Jamahal Hill on April 13. The 37-year-old then faced Jiri Prochazka in the UFC 303 main event June 29 on short notice after the fight between Conor McGregor and Michael Chandler was forced off the card. Pereira defeated Prochazka by TKO for a second time.
It's been rumored Pereira could soon fight at heavyweight in an attempt to become the UFC's first-ever three-division champion. But "Poatan" downplayed the idea and said his next Octagon appearance will take place at light heavyweight.
"I'm feeling good, (and light heavyweight) is where I want to stay," he said. "My focus is to defend my belt. Doesn't matter who. A lot of people are saying (Magomed) Ankalaev. That's who they are talking about now."
UFC CEO Dana White recently said he wants to see Pereira beat more light heavyweight contenders before moving up.
If a move up to heavyweight does happen, Pereira wouldn't be interested in facing anyone but the undisputed champion.
"It doesn't interest me at the moment to fight (interim UFC heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall)," Pereira said, adding, "It doesn't make sense to dispute the interim belt. I am not belittling him. I respect him a lot. I think he is an incredible athlete, a guy who is very dangerous (and) technical. I'm just talking about disputing an interim belt. There is no point for me."
Pereira continued, "I'm 37, so I have to go directly to the top, directly to the belt. If it's Jon Jones, if it's Aspinall, whomever, to me, (it) doesn't matter. I'm just visualizing the belt."
Heavyweight champion Jon Jones - who hasn't fought since March 2023 - has repeatedly said he will fight again in November versus former champion Stipe Miocic at Madison Square Garden. The UFC has yet to announce the event.
Pereira said Friday that facing Jones in New York would be "perfect" for him, but the Brazilian reiterated he prefers to schedule his next fight for December.
In May, Jones welcomed a potential heavyweight bout versus Pereira, saying it would be "the biggest fight in MMA history."