Sean Strickland, a former UFC middleweight champion, recently shared his thoughts on the possibility of a rematch with Alex Pereira, another former titleholder in the division. While Strickland is clear that he isn’t afraid of facing Pereira again, he’s also realistic about the potential outcome.
Strickland, currently the number one ranked contender in the middleweight division, is coming off a solid decision win against Paulo Costa. This victory took place in May at UFC 302 in Newark, New Jersey, where Strickland co-headlined the event. His performance in that fight has kept him in the title picture, with many fans eagerly awaiting his next move.
On the other side, Alex Pereira, who is now the undisputed light heavyweight champion, is preparing for his own big fight. He’s scheduled to headline UFC 307 later this year, where he’ll defend his title against Khalil Rountree. Pereira’s last fight was nothing short of spectacular, as he knocked out Jiri Prochazka with a high kick in the second round during their June title rematch. That fight took place during International Fight Week, adding to the excitement surrounding Pereira’s rise in the UFC.
However, with Dricus du Plessis recently submitting Israel Adesanya at UFC 305, the middleweight division has seen some significant shakeups. This development has led to discussions about Strickland potentially facing du Plessis in a rematch of their controversial UFC 297 title fight. Strickland has expressed interest in having this rematch in North America, which could set the stage for another high-stakes showdown.
Sean Strickland Gives Brutally Honest Assessment of Potential Rematch With Alex Pereira
In the midst of these developments, Strickland’s coach, Eric Nicksick, made headlines when he suggested that a rematch with Pereira might not be the best idea for his fighter. Despite this, Strickland remains open to the idea of facing Pereira again, though he’s under no illusions about the challenge it would pose.
“I’m not scared of Alex (Pereira), but my chin — I’ll just go to sleep, it’s a weird thing,” Strickland admitted during a recent conversation with Pereira’s coach, Plinio Cruz. He went on to explain that knocking out Pereira would be no easy task, even if he had a perfect shot. “For me to knock Alex out, he has to do something really stupid. If you gave me one free shot and you said give everything you can, I’m not knocking him out,” Strickland said.
Strickland didn’t mince words when discussing the power that Pereira possesses:
“But you do that to Alex, everybody on the roster’s going to sleep,” Strickland explained, “I just know that no matter what the f*ck I do, he’s gonna eat it, and if he just touches me with one good one — good night.”
These comments show that Strickland has a healthy respect for Pereira’s abilities, even though he’s not backing down from the possibility of a rematch. The first time these two met, Pereira knocked Strickland out in the first round, a result that Strickland clearly hasn’t forgotten. Despite this, Strickland’s willingness to step into the octagon with Pereira again speaks to his competitive spirit and desire to prove himself against the best in the division.
The Middleweight Division
As the UFC continues to evolve, the middleweight and light heavyweight divisions are full of intriguing matchups. Strickland’s potential rematch with Pereira is just one of many possibilities that fans are eager to see unfold.
Do you think we ever see a rematch between Sean Strickland and Alex Pereira? Let us know in the comments!
Featured image credits to Embed from Getty Images
