Regardless of touchdown one other title protection at UFC 307 earlier this month, Alex Pereira stays a definite betting underdog in opposition to present middleweight star, Dricus du Plessis – with the South African favored by the bookies to topple the sunshine heavyweight kingpin.
Pereira, a former undisputed middleweight champion, managed to land his third profitable protection of the sunshine heavyweight crown earlier this month in Salt Lake Metropolis, working by means of Khalil Rountree.
Felling the Syndicate MMA staple within the fourth spherical with a harmful TKO success, Sao Paulo favourite, Pereira turned in his third profitable 205lbs title protection in simply seven months since his ascension to the throne final November.
Dricus du Plessis stays betting favourite to beat Alex Pereira
Nevertheless, regardless of his roughshod run at mild heavyweight, Alex Pereira, who has welcomed a middleweight return, is a present +170 betting underdog to beat Dricus du Plessis, with betting sites you can use providing a slew of odds on him – some as favored as -200, in reality.
Himself sidelined since he took major occasion honors at UFC 305 again in August, Pretoria star, du Plessis efficiently defended the middleweight crown in Australia, stopping common-foe, Israel Adesanya with an eventual fourth spherical face crank submission win ‘Downunder’.
And within the weeks forward of his title protection in opposition to quantity eight ranked contender, Rountree in Utah, Pereira welcomed the prospect to tackle du Plessis in a bid to reclaim his crown at middleweight, earlier than confirming plans for an prolonged mild heavyweight keep.
Labelling du Plessis a “clown” who was supposedly “scared” to struggle him amid silence following his title protection in opposition to City Kickboxing ace, Adesanya, du Plessis hit out on the Brazilian in a response.
“He by no means takes it severe, so it reveals that he’s scared, you realize what i imply?” Alex Pereira stated of Dricus du Plessis. “As an alternative of him simply saying, ‘Look, UFC. Let’s make me and Pereira struggle.’ Clown.”
“A scared clown, how dare you?” Dricus du Plessis responded to Alex Pereira. “Now that’s taking it too far. I’ve already stated I’m in to struggle both you or (Sean Strickland). What extra would you like or ought to I tag your translator.”
Adding light heavyweight striker, Rountree to a stunning run on the mild heavyweight restrict since his transfer to the division in the summertime of final yr, Pereira has landed 5 victories at 205lbs since his weight class leap.
Transferring to 205lbs final annum, Alex Pereira would take house a break up choice win over former champion, Jan Blachowicz at altitude in Salt Lake Metropolis.
Positioning himself right into a vacant title struggle in November of final yr at Madison Sq. Backyard – a contented searching floor for the Brazilian, Alex Pereira stopped one other former champion, this time touchdown a TKO win over Jiri Prochakza in New York.
Headlining this yr’s monumental UFC 300 occasion in Las Vegas, Alex Pereira would flip in a hellacious first spherical knockout of yet one more ex-titleholder, ending his disagreement with Jamahal Hill with a surprising end.
And simply weeks later – changing an injury-stricken, Conor McGregor, Pereira took major occasion honors at UFC 303 throughout Worldwide Struggle Week, as soon as extra stopping Prochazka – this time with a brutal second spherical high-kick and strikes stoppage.
For du Plessis, the South African star, who has thus far loved an unbeaten run since his Octagon debut 4 years in the past, has been closely linked with a title rematch in opposition to the above-mentioned Strickland subsequent – rekindling their rivalry since a January title struggle this annum.
Nevertheless, in line with his coach, du Plessis might discover himself embroiled in one other rematch as an alternative, potentially against former gold holder, Robert Whittaker – who’s gearing up for a pivotal showdown with the unbeaten, Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 308 over the course of 5 rounds later this month.
“I had a dialog really yesterday with Dricus (du Plessis),” Morne Visser stated. “And I stated to him, there’s just one factor for sure at this stage, just one factor, and that’s that we’ve received to be able to struggle in Sydney in February. My opinion is Sean’s (Strickland) overselling it. He’s I imply, he’s simply had one win. After that was in opposition to (Paulo) Costa. (Robert) Whittaker had two, and I feel he’s going to go for quantity three now. So I feel my opinion is my sincere opinion, is that subsequent for us in line might be Whittaker in Sydney in February. I feel he’s going to beat Khamzat (Chimaev) and I truthfully suppose that they’re going to offer him the shot.”
Already linked with a prolonged keep at mild heavyweight amid his requires a heavyweight transfer as well, the subsequent challenger to Alex Pereira’s throne at 205lbs might emerge as quickly as the top of this month – with perennial contender, Magomed Ankalaev trying to e book an overdue pairing in a title-eliminator in opposition to fellow European expertise, Aleksandar Rakic.
