UFC 295 went through significant changes when the Jon Jones vs. Stipe Miocic main event got canceled. However, when it seemed like the pay-per-view event was in jeopardy, UFC boss Dana White made a bold decision to elevate the thrilling Alex Pereira vs. Jiri Prochazka bout to the main event slot.
On November 11, Pereira and Prochazka will square off for the vacant UFC light heavyweight championship. The history of the UFC light heavyweight title has been a tumultuous journey, marked by unexpected twists and turns ever since the legendary Jon Jones left the division.
Pereira is coming off a win against former lightweight champion Jan Blachowicz at UFC 291. Poatan’s journey in the UFC has been really interesting. He started in the middleweight division, and it just took him three fights to get a shot at the title against his old rival Israel Adesanya. He even managed to win that fight to give ‘The Last Stylebender’ his first-ever defeat in the middleweight division of the sport.
However, his stint in the 185 lbs. category ended when Izzy took his belt back in their rematch. Alex then moved to the light-heavyweight division. Nevertheless, the Brazilian fighter has recently revealed that his decision to move to the 205-pound weight class was not just because of his defeat.
“I decided to move up in weight not only because I lost, but before that, in my last two fights, I said, f*ck, its hard to make weight now. I am great in this weight class. I feel really good.” – said Alex Pereira
Pereira now aims to capture the light-heavyweight gold at the main event of UFC 295. However, a tough challenge awaits him as Jiri Prochazka is much more experienced in this division and also a former champion.
What is the walkaround weight of Alex Pereira?
Alex Pereira has appeared in numerous social media pictures throughout the years, showcasing his big stature as he stood head and shoulders above numerous substantial UFC light heavyweights even when he was competing in the middleweight division. This is why his normal weight or walkaround weight has been a topic of discussion among MMA fans.
There have been occasions when the Brazilian fighter has added nearly 30 pounds within 24 hours after making weight at the middleweight limit of 185 pounds. Reports indicate that Pereira’s natural weight when he’s not in training camp exceeds 230 pounds. To provide context, the former UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya typically maintains a walk-around weight in the vicinity of 203-205 pounds.
So, it is quite natural that Alex Pereira finds it more comfortable to compete in the light-heavyweight division of the UFC. However, it will be interesting to see if he will be able to uphold the UFC’s light heavyweight division.