Reigning UFC light heavyweight champion, Alex Pereira, needs a break.
No, not this kind of break.
The 37 year-old Brazilian took a pair of short notice title fights to save the UFC 300 and UFC 303 headliners and has certainly earned the time off. Fortunately for fight fans eager for the next addition to the “Poatan” highlight reel, Pereira plans to compete once more in 2024.
Against No. 2-ranked contender Magomed Ankalaev … or anyone else.
“When I return, it won’t be now. I want to rest a little, evolve my training,” Pereira said on his YouTube channel. “But I think December would be a good date for me. November or December. Before November I don’t want to go back. I want to rest and evolve. My focus is to defend my belt, doesn’t matter who. A lot of people say Ankalaev, that’s who they are talking about now. People are focused on him. But I’m training well, not just for him, but for anyone. It’s a good fight for me to fight. I’ll be well prepared for him, or anyone.”
Sounds like that jump to heavyweight is on hold, at least for the time being.
Pereira (11-2) already holds wins over Jiri Prochazka, Jamahal Hill, and Jan Blachowicz, leaving Ankalaev and Aleksandar Rakic as the only two fighters in the light heavyweight Top 5 that “Poatan” hasn’t already faced — and Rakic was just finished by Prochazka at UFC 300.
On paper, Ankalaev is next in line … or is he?