Morning Report: Michael Bisping explains disdain for an Alex Pereira vs. Dricus Du Plessis combat: ‘He’s acquired individuals to combat already’

Are we able to see extra champion vs. champion fights?

The overwhelming majority of the group appears to say no. The “superfight period” got here and went with double champions like Conor McGregor, Daniel Cormier, Henry Cejudo, and Amanda Nunes. More moderen makes an attempt noticed featherweight’s Alexander Volkanovski attempt to make historical past in opposition to Islam Makhachev however got here up quick in each efforts final 12 months. Mild heavyweight champion Alex Pereira now finds himself with a world of prospects after speedrunning his technique to two-division champion standing, albeit not concurrently just like the others.

Pereira, 37, shocked the MMA world this week by persevering with to tease a pursuit of the middleweight champion Dricus Du Plessis. The latter not too long ago efficiently defended his title for the primary time with a fourth-round face crank in opposition to Pereira’s outdated rival Israel Adesanya final month. That win was the preliminary launching level for “Poatan” to tease a 185-pound return.

Amongst these anti-middleweight Pereira is one in every of his fellow former divisional champions Michael Bisping, who understands what the motive could possibly be behind such a matchup. That does not make him a fan of the concept, although.

“I don’t prefer it. Easy as that,” Bisping mentioned on his YouTube channel. “Possibly Alex Pereira’s simply messing round as a result of although he’s a severe son of a b*tch, he’s acquired a humorousness. He’s very stoic, however I’m telling you, he’s a sarcastic man and I get it. Possibly he’s trolling, however possibly he’s not. Possibly he’s making an attempt to take advantage of cash he can, tackle the hardest opponents, and retire with tens of millions and tens of millions and tens of millions of {dollars} within the financial institution. He’s most likely going to do this anyway, however nonetheless.”

The timing of Pereira’s tease is odd as he’s acquired his subsequent protection lined up in opposition to Khalil Rountree Jr. at UFC 307 on Oct. 5. After that, there’s a prepared and ready Magomed Ankalaev in — or atop — the contender line, assuming he can get by means of Aleksandar Rakic at UFC 308 on the finish of October.

At a look, it’s an oversight on the Brazilian striker’s half, which Bisping finds a dangerous sport to play.

“He’s acquired individuals to combat already,” Bisping mentioned. “He’s combating Khalil Rountree. You can not look previous ‘Killer’ Khalil Rountree. He’s the kickboxer killer. He actually is. Take into consideration this: He beat Gokhan Saki, excellent kickboxer that got here to MMA. Dustin Jacoby, excellent Glory Kickboxer that got here to MMA. May he do the identical to Alex Pereira? I don’t know. It’s a troublesome ask, however I inform you what, don’t underestimate the person.”

“After that [if he wins], he’s gotta combat Magomed Ankalaev. He ain’t comfortable about this. He’s going completely psychological on-line. … He may need some extent. We need to see nice champions — and Alex Pereira is a good champion make no mistake — we need to see them tackle all comers of their division. Additionally, show that they’ll beat all these various kinds of kinds. Magomed Ankalaev on paper is a really, very powerful stylistic matchup due to the Dagestani wrestling. Should you have a look at Pereira, he’s had type of a positive path. I’m not speaking sh*t, I’m simply speaking details.”

Fortunately for Bisping and detractors of the conflict, Du Plessis doesn’t sound eager on the concept of defending in opposition to Pereira due to the reasons he’d count on to return after a win. Subsequently, he and his coach have already expressed that they’d desire the combat to see him problem Pereira at 205 kilos if it does occur.

Finally, the prospect of Pereira vs. Du Plessis isn’t doubtless for 2024 as UFC 307 is across the nook and Du Plessis is predicted to rematch one other former champion, Sean Strickland, in his subsequent title protection.

For Bisping’s cash, that’s most likely a greater distance to maintain for Pereira anyway.

“If Pereira can’t take the perfect shot from ‘Izzy’ at 185, he most likely can’t take the perfect shot from Dricus at 185 both,” Bisping mentioned. “It means the inventory’s gonna drop, easy as that, and it’s going to have an effect on his shopping for energy going ahead. Simply taking place to 185 doesn’t take advantage of sense for him. Been there, carried out it, acquired the T-shirt.

“Go to heavyweight if you happen to really need to turn out to be a three-division champion. What an achievement that might be.”

Solutions. UFC mailbag: Jon Jones, Belal Muhammad, and the meritocracy of title rivalry

Response. Matt Brown scoffs at Jon Jones’ legacy changing into tainted if he doesn’t combat Tom Aspinall

Delay. Sabah Homasi nonetheless ready on full fee for medical payments from Bellator combat in Sept. 2023

Legals. Ex-UFC fighter Casey Kenney pleads not responsible, launched on bond awaiting trial in January

Choices. Dana White reacts to Alex Pereira eager to drop again all the way down to middleweight

Hit. UFC Vegas 97 loses Ovince Saint Preux vs. Ryan Spann attributable to sickness

Legacy. Battle legend Rickson Gracie’s life story being tailored right into a characteristic movie

Postitive. PFL heavyweight, ex-UFC fighter Blagoy Ivanov suspended 22 months for failed drug take a look at

MMA Combating’s 2024 UFC Fantasy Draft.

Dana White’s Submit-Contender Collection Scrum.

Not simply grapplers.

Contender Collection highlights.

Burns’ Battle Week.

Chimaev coaching.

Go to Twitter, use the #MorningReport hashtag, or discover one in every of my tweets with it, and drop me a jam you’re at present actually into. I’ll decide the perfect one alongside my day by day selection and provide you with a shoutout! You can even share within the feedback beneath — these are simply tougher to sift by means of generally!

This month’s full playlist:

A pick-off!

Oh, Jon…

Good firm.

Kai looms.

Nomad.

Hacked.

The circus is alive.

Work it out.

The tease.

Troll mode.

Cody Haddon (7-1) vs. Dan Argueta (9-2); UFC Vegas 98, Oct. 12

Joselyne Edwards (13-6) vs. Tamires Vidal (7-3); UFC Vegas 99, Oct. 19

Rayanne Dos Santos (14-8) vs. Alice Ardelean (9-6); UFC Vegas 99, Oct. 19

The matchup between Alex and “DDP” can be enjoyable but it surely’s utterly pointless. Let these guys defend and in the event that they’re nonetheless champs after 5 defenses, let’s speak.

Thanks for studying!

Should you discover one thing you’d prefer to see within the Morning Report, hit up @DrakeRiggs_ on Twitter and let him learn about it. Additionally, comply with MMAFighting on Instagram and like us on Fb.