Whether he’s fighting at middleweight or light heavyweight, Alex Pereira typically steps into the Octagon 30 pounds heavier than what the scale read 24 hours prior.
On November 11, Pereira will return to the Octagon determined to claim his second UFC championship in as many weight classes when he meets former 205-pound titleholder Jiri Prochazka in the UFC 295 co-main event. It will be just the second time that ‘Poatan’ has competed at light heavyweight following a split decision victory over Jan Blachowicz in July.
Standing at 6’4″ and walking around at a weight more akin to a heavyweight, Alex Pereira goes through an admittedly strenuous weight cut whether he’s competing at middleweight or light heavyweight. But come fight night, ‘Poatan’ typically walks into the cage packing on another 30+ pounds between the moment he steps on the scale to when Octagon announcer Bruce Buffer calls his name.
“I would say maybe 225, 234, something like that,” Pereira told Ariel Helwani of his mid-fight weight for his fight against Blachowicz during an appearance on The MMA Hour. “During the fights at 185, I probably would be in the cage around 210, but at the end of the possible hydration, drinking my fluids and everything, I would probably go to 215 but fighting at 210. My camps were around the same weight. It doesn’t matter for which weight class.”
Prior to his move to 205, Alex Pereira captured the middleweight world title in 2022, scoring a stunning fifth-round knockout against Israel Adesanya. The ‘Brazilian Boogeyman’ handed the belt back to Adesanya five months later prompting his move to light heavyweight.
Alex Pereira says he weighed 103 kilograms (227 pounds) in cage against Jan Blachowicz ⚖️ #TheMMAHour
▶️ https://t.co/M7b9781NaF pic.twitter.com/7m0X6DJhEy
— MMA Fighting (@MMAFighting) September 27, 2023
Alex Pereira No Longer Making Plans to Move Back to Middleweight
Initially, Pereira intended to make a move back to middleweight and complete his UFC trilogy with Israel Adesanya, but after ‘The Last Stylebender’ fell to Sean Strickland at UFC 293, ‘Poatan’ is content staying at light heavyweight.
“No, no. It’s not in my plans,” Pereira said. “My plan was if Israel Adesanya was still the champion there, maybe win the light heavyweight belt and make a fight with him. But now, no. Sean’s my friend, and also, it’s not a weight cut I’m looking to do. I always made weight, never missed weight or anything like that, but it is a hard weight cut, so right now it’s not in my interest.”
Instead, Pereira will put his focus on handing Jiri Prochazka the first loss of his UFC career when the two behemoths scrap inside the Octagon at the world’s most famous arena, Madison Square Garden.
“It’s gonna be a fight, a real spectacle because it’s different styles,” Pereira said of his clash with Jiri Prochazka. “But it’s a style everyone loves, and I’m super stoked to have booked this fight. I’m sure it’s gonna be a blast, I don’t think anyone will regret watching this fight.”
Watch the full interview below:
