MMA
Alex Pereira won't wait on Tom Aspinall vs. Ciryl Gane before his next fight: "I want to fight for the belt"
Zuffa LLCAlex Pereira is eager to get back on the horse following his recent setback.
Pereira attempted to become a three-division champion when he fought Ciryl Gane in the UFC Freedom 250 co-headliner. The interim UFC heavyweight title was at stake, and “Poatan†relinquished the 205-pound gold in an effort to fight for the prize in a higher weight class. It didn't work out for Pereira, who was stopped in the second stanza via TKO.
Despite the loss, Pereira is sticking around at heavyweight. During a fan Q&A prior to UFC Belgrade, the surefire future UFC Hall of Famer said he's looking forward to his rebound fight (via MMAMania.com).
“Since I entered the organization, I always take one step at a time,†Pereira said. “My objective was to get to the belt, to become champion, and I was able to do that. Then I moved up a division. That was my idea, to become champion in another division. I went after the third belt. This time, this fight did not work out, but I have a lot of willpower and I am very excited for my next fight.â€
When asked whether or not he prefers to wait for reigning champion Tom Aspinall and Gane to have their expected rematch, “Poatan†made it clear that he wants to return soon.
“I do not know what will happen, and I do not know how long that fight will take,†Pereira said. “For sure I want to fight before, and after that I want to fight for the belt.â€
Pereira has been quite vocal about the officiating during his loss to Gane back in June. The former two-division titleholder has blamed Herb Dean for failing to warn “Bon Gamin†about illegal strikes to the back of the head. The Brazilian bruiser has even called for Dean to be fired as an official.
With Alex Pereira sticking around at heavyweight, who should he face next? Let us know your choice in the comments below.
This article appeared first on BJPENN.COM
Zuffa LLCFormer UFC champion TJ Dillashaw has given his thoughts on the trilogy fight between Petr Yan and Merab Dvalishvili at UFC 333.
On Saturday night, Petr Yan will put his UFC bantamweight championship on the line when he goes up against Merab Dvalishvili, the same man he beat for the belt last year, in the third and potentially final fight in their series.
RELATED: Sean O'Malley sends Petr Yan a cold message ahead of UFC 333 trilogy fight
Dvalishvili won the first bout before Petr Yan came back and improved dramatically to win the rematch. At this point, it's hard to say which way it's going to swing given how talented both fighters are.
In a recent interview, however, TJ Dillashaw had some interesting views on Petr Yan vs Merab Dvalishvili 3.
TJ Dillashaw on Petr Yan vs Merab Dvalishvili 3
“I just think that Yan really had the answers. Yan looked fantastic. Takedown defense was amazing and a guy that fights like Merab, looking for those takedowns, that's his path to victory just relentlessly grinding and getting those takedowns. If he can't get you down and it's failed shot after failed shot, then his gas tank is never going to be as good as the guy defending shots, even if you are the more in-shape fighter. We'll see if four fights in one year had a factor, but I think Yan just has the game plan and looked really good.â€
“I am leaning towards Yan. Tough fight. It really is. I think he had all the answers, and that confidence builds. He's had some losses, but those losses were (weird). His losses are minuscule losses, and then that last fight, I think just builds so much confidence that he has what it takes. The answer for Merab, the cardio for Merab. I'm leaning towards Yan, but I think it's going to be a banger of a fight again. Merab is never going to stop and you have to beat the bricks off him to win.â€
Quotes via MMA Junkie
Who are you backing to leave UFC 333 with the title? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below, BJPENN Nation!
This article appeared first on BJPENN.COM
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