Alex Pereira retained his light heavyweight title after defeating Khalil Rountree by knockout in the fourth round at UFC 307 in Salt Lake City. In an exciting matchup, “Poatan” once again showcased his exceptional skills, achieving his third title defense and establishing himself as one of the standout names in mixed martial arts.
What Are Pereira’s Next Steps?
Now the question arises about Alex Pereira’s future and what this victory could bring him. After the fight, the Brazilian expressed his desire to reclaim his middleweight title, currently held by Dricus du Plessis. However, his coach is urging him to consider a move to heavyweight. After his victory over Rountree, Pereira stated:
“It was really a tough fight; I watched a lot of his bouts, and he has a lot of experience. He has worked a lot on Muay Thai in Thailand and showed that he deserves to be here tonight… At -84 kg, my training partner Strickland will be competing for the title, and I don’t want to get in his way. I can also move to heavyweight, but I feel good at -93 kg.”
It is clear that Alex Pereira does not intend to drop to middleweight at this time, but he is not ruling out a transition to heavyweight. There could be an opportunity to compete for the vacant title due to the potential retirements of Jon Jones and Stipe Miocic. Nevertheless, the general trend seems to be to continue defending his title in light heavyweight.
The Future Is Filled with Challenges
Regardless of the choice Pereira makes, his consecutive victories and record achievements in the UFC indicate that the Brazilian is on track for more accomplishments, whether in his current weight class or in the future. Fans and mixed martial arts enthusiasts eagerly await what “Poatan” has in store for them in the coming days.
