UFC light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira wants to move up to the heavyweight and try to become the UFC’s first three-division champion. But he has one condition: that his heavyweight debut be for the 270-pound title, currently held by Jon Jones.

In a video posted on his official YouTube channel, ‘Pereira’ said that while he did see a heavyweight title bout in his future, he was focused on defending his 205-pound belt at the moment. And in order for him to fight at a different weight class, it would have to be for the title given that he is already 37 years old and doesn’t have the time to make his way up another division.

“To be honest, heavyweight isn’t my objective, it isn’t my main focus… Like I said, my focus is on my category. I’m evolving a lot, doing very good… I’m not going to force anything, I think when I go to heavyweight, today I have the baggage, the name… I would dispute the belt,” he said in his native Portuguese.

Citing his age as a limiting factor in climbing up another division from the bottom, Poatan confessed, “Like I said, I’m 37, so I have to go directly to the top. Directly to the belt. If it’s Jon Jones, if it’s Aspinall, whoever. To me, doesn’t matter. I’m just visualizing the belt.“

Some analysts like commentator and former champion Michael Bisping have advised interim heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall that he should call out Alex Pereira next since ‘Poatan’ wants to move up. However, Pereira has closed the door on a bout with Aspinall, as long as he is merely the interim champ. For now, however, Alex Pereira is totally dialed in on strengthening his legacy at 205, as he confirmed later in the same video.

Alex Pereira goes on hiatus

Having fought thrice in the past seven months, Alex Pereira wants a break before his next fight. But not a very long one. ‘Poatan’, since winning his title against Jiri Prochazka at UFC 295 last year, has bailed out the UFC twice, headlining the UFC 300 and UFC 303 marquee cards after both card’s main events ran into rough waters.

“I’m feeling good. It’s where I want to stay. My focus is to defend my belt. Doesn’t matter who. A lot of people say Ankalaev… But I’m training well, not just for him, but for anyone… I’ll be well prepared for him, or anyone,” ‘Poatan’ said.

In the almost 20-minute clip, the Brazilian also added that he would be defending his belt again this year, perhaps in November or December, barely six months from his last fight. “I want to rest a little… But I think December would be a good date for me. November or December,” Pereira added. Most wouldn’t even consider six months much of a break, as many champions fight no more than once or twice a year. But Pereira is one of the more active fighters in the promotion and likes to keep busy.

And while he wasn’t sure who his next opponent would be, he felt Magomed Ankalaev was the best bet. The Dagestani, of course, is ranked #2 and had the best case for a title shot. To summarize, Alex Pereira still wants to fight for the heavyweight title in the future but is currently dedicated to defending his light heavyweight belt, probably in the closing months of this year against Magomed Ankalaev.