After regaining the light heavyweight belt at UFC 320, Alex Pereira should move to heavyweight

After helium knocked retired Magomed Ankalaev to regain the airy heavyweight title astatine UFC 320 connected Saturday, Alex Pereira was asked implicit and implicit what helium wanted retired of his adjacent move, and his reply was consistent: "I privation a combat astatine heavyweight," helium said done his interpreter.

UFC CEO Dana White wasn't arsenic sure, telling reporters astatine the UFC 320 property league helium was hesitant a combatant who started his UFC vocation arsenic a middleweight could leap 2 value classes to heavyweight. But Pereira's caput seems made up, truthful let america to research the options for him astatine heavyweight, arsenic good arsenic the adjacent challenges for UFC 320 stars, specified arsenic men's bantamweight champion Merab Dvalishvili, Cory Sandhagen and breakout performer Youssef Zalal.

Alex Pereira, airy heavyweight

Who should beryllium next: Winner of Tom Aspinall vs. Ciryl Gane

I conscionable don't spot immoderate crushed to get cute here. Carlos Ulberg is deserving of a rubric combat astatine airy heavyweight. I would emotion to spot Jirí Procházka combat for a rubric again, too, particularly considering determination were unsocial circumstances astir some of his losses to Alex Pereira (in 2023 and 2024). But Pereira is specified a peculiar lawsuit close now. He is arguably the biggest prima connected the UFC's roster, and determination are megafights for him astatine heavyweight -- namely, a imaginable matchup against England's champion, Aspinall. If Aspinall beats Gane astatine UFC 321 successful Dubai aboriginal this month, the array is acceptable for a blockbuster champion vs. champion matchup, and I conscionable don't judge a airy heavyweight rubric defence against Ulberg oregon Prochazka is worthy forgoing that. Pereira is 38 years old. The timepiece is ticking for him astatine this point. The UFC should maximize the clip helium has left, determination him to heavyweight and fto him effort to go the archetypal three-weight champ. He tin ever instrumentality to airy heavyweight later.

Wild card: Jon Jones

First off, condolences to the Jones household for the tragic nonaccomplishment of Jon's older brother, Arthur. Family and wellness are acold much important than immoderate MMA fight, but if Jones wishes to combat again, arsenic helium has said helium does, a matchup against Pereira is 1 of the astir apt scenarios. I person said, and volition proceed to say, I deliberation the lone combat the UFC should publication for Jones is Aspinall, due to the fact that that's the combat helium owes the sport, the fans, the UFC and Aspinall. On 1 hand, Jones has each close successful the satellite to enactment retired -- but if helium does travel retired of retirement, that is the combat that should happen. The UFC besides has been beauteous stern connected Jones lone warring Aspinall. But things change, and Jones-Pereira is besides a megafight. It would beryllium precise silly to suggest it can't happen.

Merab Dvalishvili, men's bantamweight

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