Pereira won't be a heavyweight 'stepping stone' – and says Hokit would have been easier
Ahead of his fight with Sergei Pavlovich, the Brazilian criticises the UFC's matchmaking, calls critics of his chin 'idiots' and plans to come in lighter.
Archive image · Photo: U.S. Army photo by Sgt. 1st Class Brittany Primavera / Wikimedia Commons, Public domain (cropped and resized)
Alex Pereira has voiced frustration with the UFC's matchmaking. He wanted a rematch with Ciryl Gane, and the UFC said that or a fight with Josh Hokit was possible – instead he meets Sergei Pavlovich to close out the year, the 39-year-old said on The Ariel Helwani Show and to Uncrowned. "They do whatever they want is on the contract," he said. Hokit "would be a much easier fight for me," and he does not think the American is ready for Gane yet. Gane and Hokit headline UFC 334 at Madison Square Garden.
After his TKO loss to Gane for the interim title at UFC Freedom 250, Pereira considered returning to light heavyweight but is staying at heavyweight. He called critics who say he has a weak chin "a bunch of idiots." At the same time, he made clear he would not stick around if he starts losing: "I don't want to be a stepping stone for nobody to be going up." He says he has nothing left to prove.
Pereira plans to come in lighter for Pavlovich. "I'll be lighter, around 240," he said according to BoxingNews, citing a BJPenn.com report on the Helwani interview – about 240 pounds, or roughly 109 kilograms. The plan is to stay at heavyweight, "but you never know." According to BoxingNews, the bout is the co-main event of UFC 335 on December 12 in Las Vegas.