Light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira is still eager to headline the highly anticipated UFC 301 event. On Saturday, Dana White, the president of the UFC, announced that Pereira (9-2 MMA, 6-1 UFC) will be defending his title against Jamahal Hill (12-1 MMA, 6-1 UFC) in the main event of UFC 300. This thrilling showdown is scheduled to take place on April 13 at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
Pereira recently disclosed that the UFC initially intended for him to headline UFC 301, which was set to be held on May 4 at the Rio Arena in Brazil. However, he expressed his willingness to compete a month earlier and is fully prepared for the challenge. In a video on his YouTube channel, Pereira stated, “We were in talks with the UFC to organize this fight in Brazil. Then they proposed the idea of moving it up and having it on UFC 300, which is actually great for me. I have already been training rigorously, so having the fight earlier than expected is even more advantageous. I am in excellent shape, I have been working hard, and I am thrilled for the upcoming bout.”
If Pereira successfully overcomes Hill without sustaining any injuries, he would face the prospect of defending his title in his home country within a span of less than a month. This would be the shortest turnaround time between title defenses in the history of the UFC, surpassing the previous record held by former UFC women’s bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey. Rousey had a 56-day gap between her fights at UFC 168 in December 2013 and UFC 170 in February 2014.
Having experienced quick turnarounds multiple times throughout his kickboxing career, Pereira, also known as “Poatan,” is open to the challenge. He expressed his desire to defend the belt in rapid succession, stating, “I have always expressed my desire to defend the belt in quick succession, hopefully twice in a row. Now, with the upcoming events being so close to each other, I have the opportunity to defend my title at UFC 300 and potentially in Rio. This is a significant possibility, especially if I manage to avoid any injuries. I have done this before in kickboxing.”
In conclusion, Alex Pereira is ready to take on the challenge of headlining UFC 300 and potentially defending his title in his home country shortly thereafter. With his determination and commitment to training, Pereira aims to solidify his status as the reigning light heavyweight champion in the UFC.
According to the Source mmajunkie.usatoday.com