Alex Pereira pulled off one of the biggest comebacks in 2022. He launched a come back during a bout he was losing and managed to pull off TKO finish in the the fifth round at UFC 281.
With this victory, he won the UFC middleweight championship and defeated Izzy for the first time in MMA. Previously, he had defeated the “Last Stylebender” twice in the kickboxing ring. Now, the two will have another clash at UFC 287.
“Poatan” is quite interested to face light heavyweight champion Jamahal Hill. He would like to move up to face Hill in hopes of becoming a double champion. Pereira also glared at Hill after he won the belt from his teammate, Glover Texeira.
When asked about facing Hill he told ESPN MMA, “you never know”. He accused the 205-pound champ of being a “little scared” of him.
Pereira said that Hill was talking trash about him but he doesn’t want to face him. He said that Hill “opened his mouth, but when stuff got real, he backed out.”
He is also suggesting that the UFC book Hill as a backup for Izzy at UFC 287.
“If the UFC wants, they can put Jamahal Hill on standby for a light heavyweight fight on the same night, he’ll do it no problem.” Pereira said in case Izzy gets injured prior to the fight.
Pereira’s translator said that he is younger than Texeira so he’ll have an easier time defeating Jamahal Hill.
Hill recently responded to Pereira constantly talking about him. He referred to how Izzy dominated Pereira in their last matchup. Hill believes that Poatan should worry about him instead of thinking about light-heavyweight gold.
“I think [Pereira] should really focus on Izzy because…. he was getting his a** whopped for a good majority of that fight last time before he won,” Hill told The Schmo.