Alexander Volkanovski lauds Alex Pereira for being an active UFC titleholder: "You don't see many champions like this"
Alexander Volkanovski has commended current light heavyweight titleholder Alex Pereira for his willingness to defend his belt on short notice. Pereira's commitment to staying active has solidified him as a valuable asset to the UFC.
Since joining the promotion, 'Poatan' has participated in eight fights, with a remarkable four being championship bouts. He recently accepted a last-minute challenge against Jiri Prochazka at UFC 303, marking his ninth UFC fight.
In a recent YouTube video, Volkanovski applauded Pereira's bravery and dedication, contrasting him with fighters who choose their opponents strategically.
“Pereira, he is defending his belt, he isn’t just fighting anyone. He is defending his belt on short notice. I am sure he would have got a good paycheck. But it just shows you what type of guy he is. You do not see many champions like this. There are a few of us that were fighting as regularly, defending regularly. There are some people that want to choose the right fights, right timing and what not. Alex Pereira isn’t one of those guys.”
Check out Alexander Volkanovski's comments below:
Alex Pereira sets conditions for Israel Adesanya trilogy fight
Fueled by their epic kickboxing rivalry, Alex Pereira and Israel Adesanya's battles inside the UFC octagon have become legendary. Pereira dethroned Adesanya, the then-reigning middleweight king, with a fifth-round knockout at UFC 281. However, Adesanya exacted swift revenge at UFC 287, leaving the score tied at 1-1.
Fans have been clamoring for a trilogy fight, and Pereira has finally addressed the possibility. In a recent interview, Pereira expressed his reservations about returning to middleweight for a rematch, citing difficulty making the weight cut. However, he did propose a solution:
"I feel super motivated at light heavyweight. If there were talks about another match with him, it would have to be at light heavyweight.” [H/T MMA Orbit]
Check out Pereira's comment below:
This poses a challenge. Adesanya is currently focused on reclaiming the middleweight title he lost to Sean Strickland. Even if he defeats Dricus Du Plessis at UFC 305, a move to light heavyweight seems unlikely.