Blaydes Advises Against Pereira’s Move to Heavyweight

At UFC 303, Alex Pereira defended his light heavyweight title with a second-round knockout of Jiri Prochazka, sparking speculation about a potential move to heavyweight to become the first three-division champion in UFC history. However, heavyweight contender Curtis Blaydes believes Pereira should reconsider.

“Bad idea,” Blaydes said at UFC 304 media day. “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? He has to know that. I think he’s looking for a specific heavyweight, not any heavyweight.”

Blaydes suggested Pereira might be targeting fighters like Tai Tuivasa, with whom he has recently sparred, or other lower-ranked heavyweights. However, Blaydes is confident that Pereira would struggle against top-five heavyweights.

“He has matchups against guys like Tai. 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,” Blaydes said.

Blaydes, who has faced some of the hardest-hitting heavyweights, doubts Pereira’s ability to compete in the division. He dismissed concerns about Pereira’s striking, including his flying knees.

“I’m going to eat that knee,” Blaydes said. “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.”

Blaydes is confident in his ability to defeat Pereira if they were to fight.

“Yes, I would welcome a fight,” Blaydes said. “I know that’s what everyone wants. I would f*** up Alex Pereira. It’s not because he’s not good. I’m heavier than he is. A heavyweight, gravity, weight matters. It’s not a skill basis. It’s just how it is.”