Ultimate Fighting Championship’s (UFC) top Heavyweight contenders aren’t sure about Light Heavyweight champion, Alex Pereira’s, chances in their division.
UFC 304 features not only an interim Heavyweight title tilt but a defense for said title. In the co-main event, the champion, Tom Aspinall, will rematch his lone UFC successor, Curtis Blaydes.
Ahead of UFC 300 when Pereira made his first 205-pound title defense against Jamahal Hill (watch highlights), rumors started to swirl that Pereira was going to move up to challenge Aspinall. That never happened but the thought of match ups like that has now spread after another big knockout over Jiri Prochazka at UFC 303 last month (June 29, 2024). Ultimately, if Pereira does ever fight at Heavyweight, Aspinall’s next opponent, Blaydes, doesn’t expect positive results.
“Bad idea,” Blaydes said at UFC 304 media day (h/t MMA Fighting). “[Against] Him, I’ll give you my premeditated plan: I’m going to shoot. Immediately. Why would I give him any chance to knock me out on the feet when I know I can take him down at will? I’m sure he has to know that. I think he’s looking for a specific Heavyweight, not any Heavyweight.
“He has matchups against — I can see him beating guys like Tai [Tuivasa],” he continued. “We watched him sparring Tai Tuivasa. Maybe some other guys in the bottom of the top 15. But you give him a top-five guy with some real weight, he’s not winning.”
In theory, Blaydes presents the worst possible challenge for Pereira. Both fighters excel in their respective disciplines of wrestling and striking. Given Blaydes’ significant size advantage, it wouldn’t be unreasonable to expect him to exploit his strengths against the Brazilian champion.
Bladyes is well acquainted with elite-level strikers, having previously defeated some of the most formidable knockout artists in the Heavyweight division.
“I’m going to eat that knee,” Blaydes said of Pereira’s creative strikes. “I ate one from Alistair [Overeem]. You think he throws harder knees than Alistair? I know he’s got the aura going on right now, but I ate a knee from 265-pound Alistair. I’m good with eating knees.
He went on, saying, “Absolutely, I would embrace a fight. I understand that’s what everyone desires. I would confidently defeat Alex Pereira. It’s not because he lacks talent. It’s simply because I outweigh him. Being a Heavyweight, gravity and weight play a significant role. It’s not about skills, but rather the reality of the situation.”
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’McGREGOR-FREE MAIN EVENT! Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) returns to T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, on Sat., June 29, 2024, without its biggest box office draw, Conor McGregor, after the Irish sports star delayed the “greatest comeback of all-time” because he broke his pinky toe (seriously). Coming the rescue once again is Light Heavyweight champion, Alex Pereira, agreeing to rematch former division champion, Jiri Prochazka, in the pay-per-view (PPV) main event. In UFC 303’s co-headliner, top-ranked Featherweight contender, Brian Ortega, will attempt to halt the rise of red-hot surging 145-pound prospect, Diego Lopes. UFC 303’s PPV main card (see it here) will also feature Anthony Smith vs. Roman Dolidze and Ian Garry vs. Michael “Venom” Page and so much more. It’s must-watch action! UFC 303 start time scheduled for 6 p.m. ET (Prelims) and 10 p.m. ET (PPV).
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Remember that MMAmania.com will deliver LIVE round-by-round, blow-by-blow coverage of the entire UFC 304 fight card right here, starting with the early ESPN+ “Prelims” matches online, which are scheduled to begin at 6 p.m. ET (simulcast on ESPN2 at 8 p.m. ET), before the pay-per-view (PPV) main card start time at 10 p.m. ET (also on ESPN+).
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