‘It makes me very happy’: UFC champion Alex Pereira wants to fight at UFC 305 in Perth

Brazilian light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira has made his feelings known, reveals his wish for Perth to host August’s UFC 305.

He barely speaks a word of English, but UFC light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira is a superstar in Australia and says he wants to fight in Perth at UFC 305 in August.

The Brazilian knockout artist has also weighed in on the viral footage of him sparring Aussie heavyweight Tai Tuivasa, denying claims it signals a move to heavyweight.

Pereira is in Australia for a series of appearances, speaking events and training sessions, and has sold out every engagement as hordes of fans track his every move hoping to get photos and autographs.

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This masthead witnessed ‘Poatan’ spend 20 minutes taking photos and signing autographs for everyone who asked after returning to his plush W Hotel in Darling Harbour.

Pereira's fans held up traffic to get autographs and photos with him. Picture: Supplied/Brendan Bradford

Sitting upstairs overlooking the city moments later, Pereira spoke of his love for Australia, and revealed that he hopes to fight on the UFC 305 pay per view blockbuster in Perth on August 18.

“That would be fantastic, even more so now feeling the warmth from all the fans, the crowd and the good people,” he said when asked if he wants to fight on the card, which is likely to be headlined by his long-time rival Israel Adesanya.

“Imagining me doing a fight here, it makes me very happy.

“It’s my third time in Australia. I was here when Anderson Silva fought (Adesanya in 2019), but I wasn’t the man I am now. I wasn’t known.

“Now, I can come back, train and work and I like it here and I’m making new friends and new contacts.”

One of the UFC’s biggest stars, Pereira knocked out Jamahal Hill in the UFC 300 main event. Picture: Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images

Pereira expects Jiri Prochazka to be his next opponent for the light heavyweight title. Pereira won their first bout at UFC 295 by second round TKO, but says the Czech fighter is still above Magomed Ankalaev in the pecking order.

If it is added to the card, the bout would be a huge addition to UFC 305 in Perth after local favourite Jack della Maddalena was ruled out after complications due to surgery.

Pereira’s presence on the card would add another level of intrigue, with Adesanya expected to face middleweight champion Dricus du Plessis in the main event.

In one of Pereira’s first appearances in Sydney, he did some light sparring rounds against Tuivasa.

Footage of the session went viral on social media, sparking more speculation of a move up to heavyweight.

Alex Pereira spars with Tai Tuivasa

Heavyweight Poatan 👀🗿#UFC#MMA

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— Championship Rounds (@ChampRDS) June 7, 2024

But Pereira hosed down any talk about a heavyweight move, and of any bad blood with ‘Bam Bam’.

“There was no provocation and when they contacted him to do a training session with me, I think he also loved the idea,” he said. “We’re there to learn from each other.

“The training was very good, I liked it, and I think he liked it.

“But there’s no move to heavyweight. This is my division now, and I want to defend my belt.

“I’ll fight against anyone. I’m focused on title defences.”

Pereira has a long-running feud with Adesanya dating back to their time in Glory kickboxing.

Pereira has a win and a loss against Israel Adesanya in the UFC. Picture: Alejandro Salazar/PxImages/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

The Brazilian beat ‘Stylebender’ twice in their kickboxing days, before Adesanya made the move to the UFC and quickly became the organisation’s middleweight champion and one of its biggest stars.

Pereira says it was an offensive interview Adesanya gave to this reporter in 2018 that inspired him to make his own run for the UFC.

Pereira ended up scoring a massive upset win over Adesanya to claim the middleweight title in November 2022.

Adesanya won the belt back five months later, before Pereira moved up a division and became light heavyweight champion last year.

Pereira called Adesanya out for a third UFC fight at light heavyweight, but says he never heard back.

“I tried to make that fight – you saw I tried to make that fight – but he didn’t show any interest,” he said. “I think we have to forget about it.

“I’m a fighter, I’m ready to fight, no matter what.”

Originally published as ‘It makes me very happy’: UFC champion Alex Pereira wants to fight at UFC 305 in Perth