Option A: Alex Pereira makes the first defense of his light heavyweight title in the top spot at UFC 300. Option B: Alex Pereira puts that same belt up for grabs in Brazil at UFC 301.
If he has it his way, Alex Pereira will choose option C: All of the above.
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Saturday night, just moments after the conclusion of UFC 298, UFC CEO Dana White ended the speculation about who would headline the heavily hyped UFC 300 with a social media video announcing that Pereira would meet former champion Jamahal Hill.
The news was met with some surprise as the booking was rumored for the main event of UFC 301 in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil. On Sunday, the Glory Kickboxing Hall of Famer went on his YouTube channel to express his desire to not only headline what is intended to be a milestone event for the UFC but also give fans in his home country another showcase just three weeks later.
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“Since I was already talking to the UFC about UFC Brazil and it’s something that was already kind of agreed but didn’t happen, there’s this possibility,” Alex Pereira said. “The UFC likes to see me fighting. I think that would be a good idea if all goes right. If I win and I’m not injured, I would ask for that.”
Just weeks ago, Pereira said on Instagram that he intended on targeting Ronda Rousey’s record for shortest time between championship fights that she set with the 56 days between finishes over Miesha Tate and Sara McMann after facing Hill.
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Even though “Poatan” could possibly fulfill his own prophecy, the 36 year old promised that his current focus is to “win and defend this belt.”
“But one step at a time…I’m happy with this match-up with Jamahal Hill,” he said. “It’s going to be a tough fight, but I’m confident, I’m training well to be this confident.”
It wouldn’t be the first time Alex Pereira defied time in favor of championship glory. In just under 2 years after returning to MMA following a storied kickboxing career, the Brazilian captured the UFC middleweight crown with a late knockout of Israel Adesanya. Three fights later, he would become the ninth person in the promotion’s history to hold titles in two weight divisions.
UFC 300 line up
- Alex Pereira vs Jamahal Hill (light heavyweight championship)
- Zhang Weili vs Xiaonan Yan (strawweight championship)
- Justin Gaethje vs Max Holloway (BMF championship)
- Jiri Pro vs Alexsander Rakic (light heavyweight)
- Charles Oliveria vs Arman Tsurykan
- Aljamain Sterling vs Calvin Kattar
- Bo Nickal vs Cody Brundage
- Deveison Figueriedo vs Cody Garbrandt
- Jim Miller vs Bobby Green
- Holly Holm vs Kayla Harrison
- Sodiq Yosuff vs Diego Lopes
- Jessica Andrade vs Marina Rodriguez
