Following his impressive victory at UFC 320, Alex Pereira, who now has numerous options, has been advised to remain in the light heavyweight division for the immediate future.
Although the reigning light heavyweight champion, Alex Pereira, has expressed interest in a move to heavyweight for a highly anticipated clash with former champion Jon Jones, it appears there`s still work for him to do at 205 pounds.
Speculation has already linked Pereira to a potential trilogy fight against the popular Czech fighter Jiri Prochazka, but another formidable challenger could also be on the horizon.
A notable color commentator believes Pereira should face a different contender, one who was present to witness his devastating knockout of Magomed Ankalaev.
A Call for Alex Pereira to Face Carlos Ulberg Before Heavyweight Aspirations
Carlos Ulberg, the rapidly rising Kiwi contender, was conspicuously present during Pereira`s swift 80-second knockout of Ankalaev, clearly positioning himself for a future clash with the Brazilian champion.
While Ulberg has expressed enthusiasm for facing the formidable striker, many observers fear he might lose this opportunity due to Pereira`s persistent links to the heavyweight division.
Nevertheless, UFC analyst Laura Sanko suggests that before Pereira embarks on a quest for a historic third title in a different weight class, he should first defend his current belt against City Kickboxing`s Carlos Ulberg.
Sanko conveyed her opinion to MMA Junkie, stating, “I would genuinely like to see him fight Carlos, and should he emerge victorious, then at some point, a move to heavyweight becomes compelling… My preference is for the fight with Carlos to happen first.”
She elaborated, “Eventually, I truly believe he needs to compete at heavyweight. Imagine how incredible it would be for his legacy to win a fight, or even a title, in that division? It would be absolutely phenomenal.”
A Potential Surprise Challenger for Alex Pereira in the Heavyweight Division
While Pereira has remained secretive about a potential future bout with heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall, some have suggested that the Sao Paulo knockout artist could make his heavyweight debut against an opponent familiar to the British fighter.
Specifically, former UFC lightweight contender Josh Thomson proposed that Pereira would benefit from making his heavyweight debut against a former title challenger, thereby rekindling his past rivalries with prominent Russian fighters.