Could Alex Pereira be headed to heavyweight? In a recent post on Instagram , the former UFC middleweight and light heavyweight champion revealed his current weight was 243 pounds. While he has always been large for both 185 and 205 pounds, it is still surprising that he is at such a high weight.
With no clear path back to the Octagon, he could just be enjoying the time in between fights and will start dropping weight if a scrap gets booked. Or, as some fans online are suggesting, he may be preparing his body for a move to heavyweight. It is something he has suggested he would be open to in the past, and it would offer him the chance to be the first person in UFC history to win titles in three divisions.
If such a scenario did come to pass, let's look at three perfect opponents for his heavyweight debut.
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After a pair of recent wins, Derrick Lewis is right back in the thick of the top 10 at heavyweight. He is one of the most popular fighters in division history, so a matchup with Pereira could headline a major event. Possibly for a new heavyweight BMF title. While Pereira is a way more skilled striker, Lewis is, arguably, the hardest puncher in UFC history. All he would need is one good shot to put the former two-division champ to sleep.
Also Read: Derrick Lewis' next fight – 3 opponent options for "Black Beast's" UFC return
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The fight many fans would love to see is the new undisputed heavyweight king, Tom Aspinall, versus Pereira. They are probably the two most skilled fighters who weigh 205 pounds or more. Watching the chess match of how the Englishman deals with the Brazilian's striking, and how "Poatan" combats the heavyweight athleticism and grappling, is must-see television.
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Jailton Almeida is maybe the best grappler at heavyweight. If he can get by Alexander Volkov in October, he could be in line for a title fight next. But if he loses, a clash with a debuting Alex Pereira would make sense. It would be a classic striker versus grappler clash between two high-level Brazilian fighters.
Also Read: UFC BMF rankings – Looking at the 10 most violent fighters in the UFC right now
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If Volkov beats Almeida at UFC 321, a title fight is also likely in his future. However, if he falls, the visual of Pereira taking on the 6-foot-7 heavyweight star is fascinating. "Poatan" often has the range advantage over his foes. How does he deal with the shoe being on the other foot and his foe having heavyweight power?
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This is an absolute longshot, but there have been a lot of rumblings about former champion Francis Ngannou making a return to the UFC. One has to wonder if his PFL contract ends soon. The company bringing him back in a super-fight with Pereira would be a big money fight between two scary strikers who go about knocking out foes out in very different ways.
Also Read: Francis Ngannou's next fight – 3 opponent options for "The Predator"
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