5 UFC middleweights who could be successful at light heavyweight

For many years, the light heavyweight division was arguably the most talented in the UFC. A number of Hall of Famers cemented their legacies by competing at 205 pounds. Based on the current landscape of the division, there are many talented middleweights that would do well if they moved up.

It's not uncommon for middleweights to perform well, if not better, at 205 lbs. Vitor Belfort, Dan Henderson, and former middleweight champion Anderson Silva have all had success competing at light heavyweight.

In recent years, Anthony Smith and Thiago Santos have been two great examples of middleweights being more successful at 205 lbs. They both earned light heavyweight title shots and have since remained in the top 10 of the division.

There are many appealing matchups at light heavyweight should a top-ranked 185-ponder move up. This list will look at five UFC middleweights that could be successful at light heavyweight.

#5. No.4- ranked UFC middleweight Alex Pereira

Dustin Jacoby: Alex Pereira is ‘hands down’ hardest puncher I’ve ever fought, ‘just hits different’

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Since his debut, Alex Pereira has taken full advantage of every opportunity in the UFC. The former kickboxer has incredible striking, which was showcased in his most recent win against Sean Strickland. The win moved him to No. 4 in the middleweight rankings and is likely to have earned him the next title shot against Israel Adesanya.

The 35-year-old is known for his two wins over Adesanya in kickboxing. He clearly has a striking advantage over his opponents and could be more powerful at 205 lbs. He stands at 6 ft 4, eliminating the possibility of a physical mismatch at light heavyweight.

Taking Pereira's fighting style into account, there are plenty of exciting bouts that could be booked against some of the division's elite strikers. Pereira could test himself against the lower-tier or go straight against the elite.

If Pereira beats reigning-middleweight champion Israel Adesanya, reigning-light heavyweight champion Jiri Prochazka would become a logical opponent for him as they both come from striking backgrounds. The Brazilian is a kickboxer, while 'Denisa' has a Muay Thai background.