Pereira 'takes every opportunity' after UFC 303: 'I'm always ready'

Alex Pereira showed up to UFC 303 on two weeks’ notice and absolutely crushed Jiri Prochazka, knocking out “The Czech Samurai” with a head kick just seconds into the second round of their fight for the light heavyweight title (watch highlights here).

With this victory, he finally conquered the 205-pound curse that hung over the division’s belt after Jon Jones vacated it: he has defended the title twice, and he hopes to do so several more times, short term if necessary.

“I’m going to train, I’m going to be ready and I’m going to take the opportunities,” he said in a post-fight interview with the UFC’s McKenzie Pavacich. “That’s my discipline and my commitment to the sport. Whenever I get those opportunities, I’m always ready.”

After the dominant win over Prochazka, there was much talk of Pereira moving up to heavyweight. And while “Poatan” talked about that as an eventual goal, he insisted that 205 pounds was where he wanted to stay for now.

“I think I still have challenges at light heavyweight,” he said. “I want to continue to defend my belt. I want to continue to train and show those results in my fights.

“For heavyweight, it’s something that I have to prepare for, I have to prepare,” he added at the UFC 303 post-fight press conference. “So I don’t know. For example, you saw that I accepted this fight with two weeks’ notice. But for heavyweight, it’s something that has to be more planned. So right now, I’m just focused on defending my title.”

Pereira does not seem bothered by the harsh words coming from contenders Magomed Ankalaev or Jamahal Hill.

2 years ago Alex Perreira was not ready to fight me, but I believe today he is the toughest fight in the division for me and I am the toughest fight in the division for him.

— Magomed Ankalaev (@AnkalaevM) June 30, 2024

Guys, believe me, I will knock you out @AlexPereiraUFC I don’t need to bring him down, this guy has no chin left but I know he’s very dangerous

— Magomed Ankalaev (@AnkalaevM) June 30, 2024

“Everybody deserves it,” Pereira said simply. “But I’m not the guy to ask. You need to talk to Dana White.”

White earlier said that Pereira had carte blanche to fight whoever he wanted next, which made Alex’s response even more badass.

“Anyone,” he said.

He has hinted that he would like to take some time off before fighting again, but Pereira’s time off is measured in weeks, not months. And he confirmed to Pavacich that he hadn’t broken his toes on Prochazka’s head again.

“My toes are fine,” he said. “I think maybe I kicked something hard and at the time it hurt a little. When something goes wrong, it gets worse and worse, I wouldn’t be able to walk (now). But everything is fine, everything is fine now. »