Dricus Du Plessis simpler path to UFC historical past than Jones

UFC mild heavyweight champion Alex Pereira isn’t up to now faraway from middleweight that he’s forgotten what it feels prefer to get all the way down to 185 kilos.

And for that motive, the 205-pound champ thinks if he did need to develop into a simultaneous two-division champion, going again all the way down to middleweight is the simpler path primarily based on the opponent – and that the one powerful half about it will be making the load.

Conversely, if he went as much as heavyweight to chase a second belt – and a title in a 3rd division within the UFC, which is unprecedented – he’d presently be gunning for Jon Jones, himself a former mild heavyweight champion. There, Pereira thinks, the matchup is harder than at 185 towards Dricus Du Plessis, however he doesn’t have the necessity to lower weight.

“Dricus undoubtedly is a neater struggle than combating Jon Jones,” Pereira (11-2 MMA, 8-1 UFC) informed the Full Ship podcast backstage at UFC 306 at Sphere in Las Vegas on Saturday. “I believe making weight will likely be tougher than that struggle.”

Jones (27-1 MMA, 21-1 UFC) fights former heavyweight champ Stipe Miocic (20-4 MMA, 14-4 UFC) at Madison Sq. Backyard within the UFC 309 on Nov. 16 in New York. Du Plessis (22-2 MMA, 8-0 UFC) received the middleweight title with a break up determination over Sean Strickland in January, then defended it in August with a fourth-round submission of ex-champ Israel Adesanya.

Pereira has been one of many busiest champions in UFC historical past since he beat Adesanya for the middleweight title in late 2022. He misplaced it to him in a rematch 5 months later, then went as much as 205 kilos. That might make going again to 185 the most important take a look at, he mentioned – not the opponent. Du Plessis, he thinks, doesn’t take issues significantly sufficient to make a proposed struggle lifelike.

“I did cease (combating at middleweight) as a result of I mentioned my physique was going to interrupt with two or three fights having to make that lower,” Pereira mentioned. “Now I believe I’ve rested lengthy sufficient, I may undoubtedly do the lower and make that struggle occur, nevertheless it relies on him. I’ve confirmed the curiosity many occasions, however he by no means replied. The best way he presents himself, he’s all the time joking in his response. He’s by no means critical. He’s all the time trolling in some way when the topic is introduced to him. He by no means takes it critical, so he exhibits that he’s scared. So I requested the UFC to make me a greater struggle. (Du Plessis is a) clown.”

Pereira had one tune-up struggle at mild heavyweight about 14 months in the past. Then at UFC 29, he beat Jiri Prochazka for the vacant 205-pound title. He defended it on quick discover within the UFC 300 most important occasion in April towards Jamahal Hill with a first-round knockout. Then in one other short-notice take a look at due to Conor McGregor drama, he beat Prochazka once more at UFC 303 in June.

Already, he’s booked for what will likely be his fourth title struggle in lower than 11 months when he meets challenger Khalil Rountree Jr. within the UFC 307 most important occasion Oct. 5 in Salt Lake Metropolis. He’s as a lot as a 5-1 favourite within the struggle – by far the very best odds in his favor of any of his UFC bouts.

For extra on the cardboard, go to MMA Junkie’s occasion hub for UFC 307.