For Alex Pereira, the aim is to defend his belt as fast as possible, even if it means making a quick turnaround that could threaten his chances of winning.
Pereira is now booked to headline the historic UFC 300 card on April 13 against Jamahal Hill. The match apparently came on short notice, with White admitting that Leon Edwards was considered first, while Hill said that the offer was made just a day before the announcement last weekend. Despite that, “Poatan” is willing to take rushed fights, not only at UFC 300 but so as in his coming bouts.
According to the fighter, the original plan was to join the UFC 301 card on May 4 at Rio Arena in Brazil. However, the company instead offered to make it sooner by booking him at UFC 300 in April.
“We were talking with the UFC to make this fight in Brazil,” Pereira said via an interpreter on his YouTube channel. “Then they came up with the idea to bring it a little earlier and make it on UFC 300, which for me is a good thing because I’ve already been training hard. The fight being before what was expected makes it even better for me. I’m in good shape, I’ve been training hard, and I’m excited for the fight.”
Despite now being booked in one of UFC’s biggest events, Pereira still hasn’t let go of his UFC 301 plans. It would be an incredibly quick return for him if pushed, but the 36-year-old Brazilian is determined to collect title defenses victories as quickly as possible.
“I always spoke that I want to defend the belt hopefully in a very fast pace in a row, two times,” Pereira said. “Now, this would be the opportunity, with the cards being so close to each other, for me to be able to defend at UFC 300 and maybe in Rio.”
Of course, that remains a “possibility” for Pereira if he ends up unscathed after the UFC 300. Yet, the fighter is confident about it, as he used to do the same quick turnarounds in his kickboxing career.
