Dricus Du Plessis recently expressed his interest in potentially challenging Alex Pereira for the light heavyweight title, sparking a reaction from the reigning champion.
During the UFC 297 pre-fight press conference last Thursday, Du Plessis fielded questions about the possibility of moving up to light heavyweight if he secured victory against Sean Strickland, aiming to add the middleweight belt to his collection.
Dricus du Plessis Has Light Heavyweight Urge, Alex Pereira Responds
In response to the inquiry, Du Plessis, with Pereira seated in the front row, affirmed his eagerness for such a move. “One hundred percent,” Du Plessis stated. “After this, I have a whole division to take care of before I start thinking about him. But I’m taking care of that division, and whether it’s him or someone else, after this division, that’s the one I’m after.”
Pereira, not one to let the comments slide, offered his perspective on the matter. In an interview with FULL SEND MMA, Pereira acknowledged Du Plessis’s words but played down the likelihood of an imminent clash. “He spoke, so you have to listen,” Pereira commented. “But I think that’s far from happening, so it’s just talk for now.”
The current UFC light heavyweight champion, Pereira, recently secured the title in November by defeating Jiri Prochazka at UFC 295. A former UFC middleweight champion as well, Pereira is set to attend UFC 297 in Toronto to support Strickland, the defending champion in the middleweight division.
Mutual Respect
When asked about his relationship with Strickland, Pereira emphasized mutual respect despite not being close friends. “The relationship I have with him, it’s good,” Pereira noted. “He’s not a great friend because I don’t speak English. If I spoke English, maybe we’d speak more. We trained together after our fight. He’s a fun, cool guy, and I’m here supporting him for this fight.”
As the dialogue between Du Plessis and Pereira unfolds, fans are left intrigued by the possibility of a future showdown between the two talented fighters. However, with Pereira’s cautious response, it remains to be seen whether this potential clash will materialize anytime soon. UFC enthusiasts will undoubtedly keep a close eye on both fighters’ performances, eagerly anticipating the next chapter in this developing narrative.
Can we expect a monster clash between Dricus du Plessis and Alex Pereira to take place at light heavyweight in the near future? Let us know in the comments!
Featured image credits to Embed from Getty Images
