UFC champion Alex Pereira focused on defending light heavyweight title, not moving divisions

SALT LAKE CITY – UFC champion Alex Pereira plans on staying at light heavyweight for the time being.

Pereira (11-2 MMA, 8-1 UFC) will look to notch his third title defense against Khalil Rountree (14-5 MMA, 9-5 UFC) in Saturday’s UFC 307 (pay-per-view, ESPNews, ESPN+) main event at Delta Center in Salt Lake City.

“Poatan” has contemplated moves to both heavyweight and middleweight, even doubling down on his callout of UFC 185-pound champion Dricus Du Plessis. But ahead of UFC 307, it appears Pereira has changed his tune.

“I would actually choose to defend my belt,” Pereira told MMA Junkie and other reporters through an interpreter at Wednesday’s UFC 307 media day. “For me to go to a lower weight class, it would take some time, need some preparation. For me to go to a higher weight class, it also takes more preparation. So right now, the way it is at light heavyweight is perfect.”

Pereira recently met UFC heavyweight champion Jon Jones. His coach and mentor Glover Teixeira is confident Pereira can take out any heavyweight, but with Jones hinting that his upcoming title defense against Stipe Miocic in the UFC 309 headliner could be his last, Pereira would rather just train with him.

“I was only thinking about training because Jon said his last fight may be his last fight,” Pereira said. “So I want to go over there and learn a little bit from him. I’m a guy that has an open mind, and I think it’ll be great.”

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 307.