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Alex Pereira confirms move to light heavyweight following UFC 287 title loss: ‘I’m going up’

Former undisputed UFC middleweight champion, Alex Pereira has confirmed plans to make a division climb to the light heavyweight limit for his next Octagon walk, following his championship loss to Israel Adesanya last weekend at UFC 287. Taking main event status at the Miami, Florida pay-per-view event, Brazilian striker, Pereira suffered his first promotional loss […]

Taking main event status at the Miami, Florida pay-per-view event, Brazilian striker, Pereira suffered his first promotional loss in a championship rematch with arch-rival, Adesanya.

Winning the undisputed middleweight championship back in November of last year in the main event of UFC 281, Sao Paulo native, Pereira stopped Adesanya with a rallying performance at Madison Square Garden.

However, suffering his first loss to the Nigerian-Kiwi as part of their four-fight series at UFC 287 last weekend, Alex Pereira was stopped with a devastating second round KO from Adesanya in the ‘Sunshine State’ – with the latter chalking up his first victory over the now-former champion at the fourth time of trying.

Alex Pereira confirms move to light heavyweight division

Linked with an immediate move to the light heavyweight limit of 205lbs for his next Octagon walk by UFC president, Dana White, Pereira has now confirmed he will test waters currently swam best by Jamahal Hill for his next Octagon outing.

“Hi, folks, like I promised, I’ll announce you big news on my channel,” Alex Pereira said on his YouTube channel. “My next fight will be in 205[lbs] [division]. Yeah, you heard right – my next fight will be in 205[lbs]. I think I did my work in 185 and now I’m feelin’ good to go up to 205. Like I told you, when I’m feeling good, I will go up – this will be something natural. And now I think it is.”

Furthermore, Pereira claimed that if he wished to stay around at middleweight and pursue a title trilogy rubber match with Adesanya, the UFC would grant him that fight, however, he claimed the City Kickboxing native will not likely try to provoke him because he does not fight at middleweight anymore.

“… All of you saw the provocation from (Israel) Adesanya after the fight – he acts as if he has won against me three times,” Alex Pereira explained. “But it’s not like this. But I understand – or try to understand, the happiness he has. It was his dream to win one time against me. And now he did. But let’s see what will be his behavior. I’m going to light heavyweight because it’s a good option for me. But I’m sure if I stay in this division (middleweight), I can fight against him directly. Let’s see, how he behaves.”

Off the back of his middleweight title redemption at UFC 287, Adesanya was linked with a potential move to the light heavyweight limit himself, with head coach, Eugene Bareman weighing up a title outing against Jamahal Hill.

Furthermore, immediate title fight defenses against both the likes of Sean Strickland, and the surging Dricus du Plessis have also been floated since Adesanya’s championship victory last weekend.

UFC caller Jon Anik praises Jorge Masivdal, jabs Colby Covington: ‘He never stepped out of his own skin’

The iconic voice of the UFC, Jon Anik took a moment to throw shade at UFC welterweight Colby Covington. He may be the beloved voice of the UFC which many fans and fighters have grown to adore since the departure of Mike Goldberg, but Covington has proved that he holds no barriers in who he […]

The iconic voice of the UFC, Jon Anik took a moment to throw shade at UFC welterweight Colby Covington.

He may be the beloved voice of the UFC which many fans and fighters have grown to adore since the departure of Mike Goldberg, but Covington has proved that he holds no barriers in who he antagonizes.

The feud began recently at UFC 286 when Anik spoke out against Colby Covington being named the backup for the welterweight title, suggesting that Belal Muhammad was a more deserving candidate.

Understand acutely why Colby Covington was the back-up but hard not to feel for @bullyb170! 9-fight unbeaten streak. Hasn't lost in 4-plus years. Just KO'd a previously undefeated fighter. The man deserves his respect and I don't say that b/c he hosts a podcast w/ my twin bro.

— Jon Anik (@Jon_Anik) March 17, 2023

Once ‘Chaos’ heard about Anik’s stance, he was not exactly thrilled with his suggestion and went as far as threatening the UFC’s main man behind the mic.

The shocking vile video led to an outpouring of support for Anik, and many distasteful towards Colby Covington.

One of those to speak up in support of Anik was none other than Colby Covington’s bitter rival Jorge Masvidal.

Masvidal did not hesitate in sounding off against his former friend.

“I’ve still got three felonies because of this little b****, that allegedly I did this and allegedly I did that,” Masvidal said. “This guy’s a lying piece of s*** coward, the same coward that we’ve all seen him be on f****** TV, and now he’s trying Jon Anik, saying he’s going to kill Jon Anik. Who the f*** are you, bro? You a f****** gangster or are you a cop-calling b**** pressing charges saying another fighter gave you brain damage off allegedly this and allegedly that?”

Jon Anik takes slight jab toward Colby Covington following UFC 287

Following the suggested announcement of Masivdal’s retirement from the UFC, Anik took a moment to throw a subtle jab at Covington while praising his counterpart.

Perhaps this should not be a surprise considering it is not the first time Covington has verbally attacked non-fighters in the UFC.

He has also criticized fellow commentator Joe Rogan and even publicly threatened UFC president Dana White at one point in time.

Covington is currently favoured to be the next in line to challenge current champion Leon Edwards, but it should not be a surprise if and when Anik remains professional and announces his fight.

Israel Adesanya labelled greatest middleweight of all time, surpasses UFC great Anderson Silva

Israel Adesanya has firmly passed former undisputed middleweight champion, Anderson Silva as the greatest middleweight fighter of all time according to UFC play-by-play lead, Jon Anik – who claims the strength of schedule and second round KO win over Alex Pereira solidify his claims. Taking main event honors at UFC 287 over the course of […]

Taking main event honors at UFC 287 over the course of last weekend, Adesanya managed to reclaim the undisputed middleweight title with a stunning second round knockout win over defending champion, Pereira.

Forced to return to the middleweight limit for the first time in his professional mixed martial arts career, the Nigerian-Kiwi had dropped his crown to Pereira back in November of last year at UFC 281, suffering a fifth round TKO loss at the Octagon fence.

Rallying and surviving a striking onslaught from Pereira at UFC 287 over the weekend, Israel Adesanya countered at the fence, stopping the Brazilian with a massive right hook counter, sending him to the Octagon canvas.

Heralded for his victory – namely by UFC welterweight Matt Brown following his knockout win, Adesanya, who has been touted as one of the top-5 greatest of all time, has now eclipsed the above-mentioned, Silva as the best middleweight to ever grace the sport.

“In my humble opinion, [the UFC 287 win] cements Israel Adesanya as the greatest [middleweight] of all time,” Jon Anik said on ESPN First Take. “There are people who can still argue Anderson Silva is the greatest middleweight champion of all time, and in terms of the title defenses, that is okay.”

“But, I sit here in 2023, and not just argue for Adesanya’s case as one of the best pound-for-pound guys right now,” Anik explained. “I think he’s the greatest middleweight champion of all time on his strength of schedule, and based on this win.”

Israel Adesanya landed a win over Anderson Silva back in 2019

Sharing the Octagon with former middleweight champion, Silva back in February 2019 in the main event of UFC 234, City Kickboxing staple, Adesanya managed to land a unanimous decision triumph against the former pound-for-pound number one.

Israel Adesanya touted to make light heavyweight title siege against Jamahal Hill next: ‘Sign it, let’s do it’

While ruling out the possibility of an immediate championship trilogy rubber match against Alex Pereira next, newly crowned division champion, Israel Adesanya has been linked to a light heavyweight move of his own against division titleholder, Jamahal Hill, by head coach, Eugene Bareman. Headlining UFC 287 over the course of last weekend, Adesanya reclaimed his […]

Headlining UFC 287 over the course of last weekend, Adesanya reclaimed his undisputed middleweight title with a devastating second round KO win over Pereira in Miami, Florida.

Adesanya, who scored his first victory over the Brazilian as part of their infamous four-fight series, dropped his middleweight crown against the Sao Paulo striker back in November of last year at UFC 281 in Madison Square Garden in a fifth round TKO loss.

Israel Adesanya touted to pursue Jamahal Hill title fight in UFC return

Ruling out the possibility of fighting Pereira in a title trilogy rubber match himself following his redemption in the ‘Sunshine State’, Israel Adesanya has been touted to potentially pursue a light heavyweight title again, this time against recently minted champion, Hill.

“Let’s do it,” Eugene Bareman said of a fight between Israel Adesanya and Jamahal Hill during an interview with Submission Radio. “Let’s do it. And honestly, it doesn’t matter, it doesn’t matter [about whether we match up well with the current champion]. Like every fighter that you fight will have flaws. And that’s up to the opponent and the team to take advantage of them. So, Jamahal Hill, I’m not being disrespectful. I haven’t seen him fight yet. I don’t think. But i don’t watch the fights.”

“…If you’re a world champion, you’re the best of the best,” Eugene Bareman explained. “I’m sure. He is a very tough fight. I’ve seen him at the after party, I’m sure he is a nice fella. But it’s not about that. Like, it’s about the challenges, man. When you get to this level, it’s about challenges. Let’s do it. Sign it, like, get it done, boys. Can you get it done?”

Minting himself as the undisputed light heavyweight champion back in January at UFC 283 in Brazil, Hill, a product of Dana White’s Contender Series – managed to defeat Glover Teixeira in a one-sided unanimous decision victory.

Failing in his pursuit of duel-weight champion status back in 2021, Adesanya suffered a unanimous decision loss to former division champion, Jan Blachowicz in his first professional defeat.

Kelvin Gastelum plans title rematch with Israel Adesanya after UFC 287 win: ‘People want to see that fight’

Returning to the winner’s enclosure for the first time since February 2021, former interim middleweight title challenger, Kelvin Gastelum has suggested a potential title re-run with newly minted undisputed gold holder, Israel Adesanya in the future. Featuring in a featured preliminary bout at UFC 287 last weekend in Miami, Florida – former interim middleweight title […]

Featuring in a featured preliminary bout at UFC 287 last weekend in Miami, Florida – former interim middleweight title challenger, Gastelum managed to take home a close, unanimous decision victory over Chris Curtis.

Snapping a two-fight losing skid to former undisputed champion, Robert Whittaker, and one-time title challenger, Jared Cannonier, Gastelum, who sits at #11 in the official division rankings following UFC 287, most recently defeated Ian Heinisch prior to his judging win over Curtis.

Kelvin Gastelum weighs up rematch with Israel Adesanya

And off the back of his decision win, San Jose native, Gastelum claimed he would be foolish not to pursue a final title push, and furthermore, a rematch with Adesanya.

“We got the win, mission accomplished for now,” Kelvin Gastelum said following UFC 287 on his YouTube channel. “I’m back on my feet. This is like I said, the renaissance of K.G. I’m ready to take it to another level. I’m ready to go all the way this time. All the way to the belt. Maybe a rematch with Izzy (Israel Adesanya), who knows? That’s the goal, why not?”

“People want to see that fight [rematch],” Kelvin Gastelum explained. “I want to be champion. I’m not just saying that just to say it, I mean that. So, that’s where I’m working towards. I’m talking to my manager about what the next steps are.”

Initially sharing the Octagon in the co-main event of UFC 236 back in April 2019, Gastelum suffered a unanimous decision loss to Adesanya, despite pushing the City Kickboxing staple the distance and to his limit over the course of five rounds.

Headlining UFC 287 last weekend, Adesanya reclaimed his undisputed middleweight title against Brazilian rival, Alex Pereira – capturing the crown with a second round knockout win.

Gilbert Burns apologizes to Jorge Masvidal following UFC 287 ‘greasing’ accusations: ‘I can’t prove that’

Gilbert Burns has issued an apology to Jorge Masvidal after accusing the Miami native of ‘greasing’ for their UFC 287 co-main event on Saturday night. Burns scored a decisive unanimous decision victory prompting ‘Gamebred’ to call it a career following four-straight losses inside the Octagon. However, ‘Durinho’ attracted much more attention than he bargained for […]

Gilbert Burns has issued an apology to Jorge Masvidal after accusing the Miami native of ‘greasing’ for their UFC 287 co-main event on Saturday night.

Burns scored a decisive unanimous decision victory prompting ‘Gamebred’ to call it a career following four-straight losses inside the Octagon. However, ‘Durinho’ attracted much more attention than he bargained for when he accused Masvidal of ‘greasing’ before their contest during his UFC 287 post-fight press conference appearance.

Appearing on The MMA Hour with Ariel Helwani, Masvidal vehemently denied the accusations, suggesting that Burns’ grapple-heavy strategy failed to get a finish thanks to his own ‘sh*tty technique.’ It didn’t take Gilbert Burns long to walk back his comments in a video released online.

Gilbert Burns Can’t Prove the Accusations He Levied Against Jorge Masvidal

“I would like to take a moment to apologize to Jorge ‘Gamebred’ Masvidal, Burns said. “The things that I said after the fight at the press conference for UFC 287, I said that he [used] lotion and I said it too much. I cannot prove that and I would like to send my apologies to Jorge and his team and take everything I said [back]. I hope he accepts my apologies.

“What I did was wrong and I have no proof that he did that and I don’t want to take nothing away from him,” Burns continued. “The guy’s a warrior 52 pro fights. I hope you have a good retirement and I hope you accept my apologies. Thank you guys.”

Gilbert Burns apologizes to Jorge Masvidal for his greasing allegations after UFC 287.

(via @DamonMartin) pic.twitter.com/vxPPBvbjGU

— MMAFighting.com (@MMAFighting) April 11, 2023

With his win on Saturday night, Gilbert Burns is ready for another crack at the UFC welterweight title. In his post-fight interview with Joe Rogan, ‘Durinho’ demanded to be the next man up once reigning champion Leon Edwards and top contender Colby Covington settle their business this summer. Rumored to take place in July when the promotion returns to London, Burns plans on being the official backup for the welterweight title tilt should either fighter be forced to withdraw from the contest on short notice.