Alex Pereira may stand as the most accomplished fighter in the current UFC roster. He is the only man to have won two division championships in a short period of four years while crushing the competition in both divisions. But he’s not done yet. The former 2-division Glory Kickboxing, and now UFC champion wants a third belt—and he’s dead serious about it (quite true to form). But there’s only one roadblock. It’s the recent ‘rule’ that a fighter has to vacate their belt if they want to move up a weight class.
Whereas Dana White, just last week, had to put some ground rules in place for fighters who want to become two-division champions. A fighter will be expected to vacate their previous belt if they can not come back to their original weight class and defend it. This condition alone makes it impossible for almost any fighter to do what Conor McGregor did—clog up the featherweight division (while fighting for another belt) when it was clear that the double champ was done with 145 pounds.
But if a fighter can make weight in two divisions, then the UFC head honcho sees no reason why they shouldn’t defend both belts simultaneously. A smart move by the boss man to avoid fighters holding up the division because of their double-champ aspirations.
Alex Pereira is ready to fight even more and defend both the light-heavyweight and heavyweight belts if he can!
via: @Shak_Fu / #UFC313 #MMA pic.twitter.com/fxz5jNuFb2
— MMA Pros Pick (@MMA_PROS_PICK_) March 1, 2025
But the catch is, ‘Poatan’ is far from just another fighter in the roster. In his recent interview with SHAK MMA, Pereira had a message for Dana White on his condition of a fighter being a double champ. In the interview, the CBS sports journalist Shakiel asked, “Dana white recently said that if a fighter wants to become a champ-champ, simultaneous 2-division champion, they need to defend the title in both divisions. Or else the will have to vacate. With your activity, do you think you are the kind of fighter who can win titles in two divisions in the same time. As in, is this something you are gonna start working towards?”
‘Poatan’ replied, “For sure. That would be my choice. If i could maintain two belts. You know my weight is something that’s good for both divisions, light heavyweight and heavyweight. So I think if I’m able to, then thats what I will do.”
And furthermore, Alex Pereira is currently Dana White’s biggest star in the promotion. ‘Poatan’ has repeatedly proved himself a company man, stepping up on short notice and putting on show-stopping performances. And we all know how the UFC head honcho likes to play favorites, especially with fighters who show up when the company needs them. But before Pereira gets a chance to compete for another belt, he has one task ahead of him—his fourth title defense against a dangerous opponent.
Alex Pereira against his ‘toughest’ potential opponent
Alex Pereira will go head to head next week, putting his light heavyweight belt on the line against Magomed Ankalaev (#1). Ankalaev is currently on an impressive 13-fight unbeaten streak since 2018. While Pereira is confident that he can maintain his weight and become a simultaneous 2-division champ, he assures his fans that he is not overlooking his Dagestani rival. He is well aware of the arsenal Ankalaev carries and knows that the Dagestani can take a fight to the ground effectively.
Statistically on paper, Magomed Ankalaev is the more complete fighter Alex will ever be facing a man who is dangerous both standing and on the ground. Ankalaev has shown in the past that he can go for five rounds, and when need be, and can drag his opponent to the ground and dominate him there. He fought for the light heavyweight title in 2022 against the Polish powerhouse, Jan Blachowicz.
MMA: UFC 282 – Blachowicz vs Ankalaev Dec 10, 2022 Las Vegas, Nevada, USA Magomed Ankalaev blue gloves reacts after the fight against Jan Blachowicz red gloves during UFC 282 at T-Mobile Arena. Las Vegas T-Mobile Arena Nevada USA, EDITORIAL USE ONLY PUBLICATIONxINxGERxSUIxAUTxONLY Copyright: xStephenxR.xSylvaniex 20221210_szo_cs1_0379
The fight went 5 rounds and the former champion Blachowicz, kept chopping Ankalaev’s legs—just like how ‘Poatan’ is also expected to. But during the fight with the Polish power house, Ankalaev made an adjustment and dominated later rounds of the fight on the ground. That, by the way, is not an easy thing to do because Blachowicz is an accomplished BJJ black belt himself.
The fight capital of the world, Las Vegas, will host the upcoming UFC 313 next week. While the entire card is expected to bring fireworks inside the octagon, fans will be holding their breaths for the main event. It will be exciting to see if the Brazilian will be able to cement his legacy as a three-division champ if he gets past his Dagestani foe next Saturday. How do you think this fight will play out? Let us know in the comments.
The post Alex Pereira Has Only One Thing to Tell Dana White After UFC’s Ban on Double Champs appeared first on EssentiallySports.
