Dricus Du Plessis is assured that he can transfer up a division to beat Alex Pereira.
This follows a run-in between each champions after du Plessis’ title victory at UFC 312.
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Du Plessis made feedback in the direction of Pereira at UFC 312 in Sydney, Australia, after he retained his middleweight title towards Sean Strickland.
“Since he’s standing throughout the octagon…Is there nobody else? Is there nobody else?” the South African shouted on the Brazilian, who had entrance row seats for his post-fight octagon interview.
This prompted a backstage run-in between each du Plessis and Pereira, which has now each been confirmed by the 2 champions.
“Yeah, he got here as much as me and requested: “Did you problem me?” du Plessis stated at his UFC 312 post-fight press convention.
“I used to be like: ‘I did the entire present, I did the entire film scene and all the things,’ and also you’re like did you problem me. That is anticlimactic, however certain, sure.
“I stated yeah I did problem you…however I’ve the world’s respect for Alex Pereira. I feel he’s the pound-for-pound finest fighter on the planet.
“I’ve probably the most respect for him for what he is carried out in a brief time period within the UFC to return from one other sport…
“I need to share the octagon with that man. I’ve crushed [Israel] Adesanya, who has crushed him. I do know I can beat him, and at 205 [pounds], 100%.”
Simply moments after his second defence of the UFC middleweight title towards Strickland, Pereira responded to ‘Stillknocks’ backstage.
The UFC gentle heavyweight champion stated ‘let’s make it occur’, saying for him to comply with a combat at 205-pounds, which is his present weight class, above du Plessis’ 185 lbs.
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Pereira will headline the UFC’s subsequent pay-per-view of 2025 as he defends his gentle heavyweight title towards Magomedo Ankalaev.
“Completely, in fact,” Pereira informed Full Ship MMA when requested if he would tackle du Plessis after the Russian.
“We’re targeted on March 8, however since this occurred proper now I couldn’t let it cross. We shook arms, so we have now a deal.”
It appears each champions know the place their priorities lie earlier than a possible mouthwatering tremendous combat.
“No, Khamzat [Chimaev] is first,” du Plessis added throughout his post-fight press convention.
“I stated please beat Ankalaev, no hate towards Ankalaev. I simply need to beat Alex Pereira.
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“Nothing private towards Ankalaev, it was simply Pereira is such a legend on this sport already that to me it will be superb to beat him for my legacy.
“I need to be the best to ever do that, however Khamzat is subsequent, Khamzat is subsequent, and I’m gonna be sure that there is no query I’m the goat of the middleweight choice.
“Anderson Silva, in my thoughts, is the goat of this division and you’ve got Adesanya, who has carried out unimaginable issues.
“However it’s not about what number of instances you combat, it is about what number of instances you defend the belt and who you have carried out it towards and in what time period you have carried out it.
“I am not dashing for my subsequent combat to be Alex Pereira. I would like Khamzat subsequent.”
Du Plessis is more likely to defend his UFC middleweight title towards the undefeated Khamzat Chimaev subsequent.
UFC 312 outcomes
And Nonetheless
Dricus Du Plessis defends UFC middleweight title towards Sean Strickland by way of unanimous choice
Zhang Weili defends UFC strawweight title towards Tatiana Suarez by way of unanimous choice
Tallison Teixeira defeats Justin Tafa by way of first-round knockout
Jimmy Crute attracts with Rodolfo Bellato by way of majority choice
Jake Matthews defeats Francisco Prado by way of unanimous choice
Chimaev is unbeaten in 14 skilled MMA fights and has gained eight straight UFC bout.
His final victory got here towards Robert Whittaker at UFC 308 final October, when he shattered his fellow middleweight’s jaw to items with a rear bare choke.