Sean Strickland Skeptical of Alex Pereira’s Return to Middleweight
Following Dricus Du Plessis’s recent middleweight title defense, UFC light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira has expressed interest in moving back down to challenge for the belt. However, former middleweight king Sean Strickland is strongly advising against this potential weight cut. Strickland believes Pereira has moved beyond the middleweight division permanently, citing his experience and physical changes.
Alex Pereira’s Middleweight Past
Alex Pereira’s last foray into the middleweight division concluded at UFC 287, where he lost his championship title to Israel Adesanya via knockout. Since that pivotal moment, Pereira has successfully transitioned to the light heavyweight division, capturing the title and defending it twice. Strickland, who has personal experience with grueling weight cuts, recalls seeing Pereira in a visibly diminished state before his rematch with Adesanya. This firsthand observation fuels Strickland’s doubt about Pereira’s ability to make the 185-pound mark again. Even Du Plessis himself, the current middleweight champion, has indicated a preference for facing Pereira at light heavyweight rather than cutting down to middleweight.
The Physical Toll of Weight Cutting
Strickland’s primary concern stems from the physical demands of making championship weight, especially when moving up in divisions and then attempting to return. He vividly remembers encountering Pereira backstage before his middleweight title fight at UFC 287. „I remember seeing Alex in his last middleweight fight backstage, he looked like death,“ Strickland stated. „When he was cutting weight last time for middleweight, I went to say hi and he looked like a dead son of a bitch – to the point where I was like, ‚Dude, this isn’t good for you, man, go up.'“ This memory underscores Strickland’s belief that Pereira’s body has likely adapted to the 205-pound division, making a return to 185 pounds an unhealthy and potentially detrimental endeavor.
A Future in Light Heavyweight
Given these concerns, Strickland firmly believes that Pereira is best suited for the light heavyweight division. He suggests that Pereira could comfortably compete and defend his title at 205 pounds „anytime, any week.“ The idea of Pereira successfully and safely making the grueling cut back to middleweight, in Strickland’s opinion, is highly improbable. This perspective not only highlights Strickland’s genuine concern for Pereira’s well-being but also suggests a strategic understanding of how weight classes impact fighter performance and longevity. Meanwhile, Pereira is slated to defend his light heavyweight title against Khalil Rountree Jr. in the main event of UFC 307 in Salt Lake City on October 5th, further solidifying his current place in the 205-pound division.
