Alex Pereira demolished Sean Strickland at UFC 276 to go 3-0 under the company’s banner in a span of eight months and earn a shot at Israel Adesanya’s middleweight championship. In the aftermath of his victory, however, he became a target for another fast-rising UFC contender.
Khamzat Chimaev works his way up in the welterweight division after a recent decision victory over Gilbert Burns, but that didn’t stop him from voicing his interest in facing “Poatan” next at middleweight, going on Twitter to call company president Dana White to book him against the Brazilian striker next after UFC 276.
I’m want to fight with this guy @ufc @danawhite let’s make it https://t.co/ao2fKbLCqq
— Khamzat Chimaev (@KChimaev) July 3, 2022
Pereira reacted to the callout on the latest edition of MMA Fighting podcast Trocacao Franca.
“Look at this guy,” Pereira said of Chimaev’s tweet. “I’m going to fight for the belt, it’s guaranteed. He is interested in your attention. “Oh, I want to fight that guy.” He is aware of my status and still speaks like this. It would be interesting to [what he would do] to hear Dana White say, “Alex, Adesanya has a shot but needs some preparation, so fight him first, because he wants you to fight.” We’ll see what he says.
“[Chimaev] is attracted to it because he doesn’t understand. I’m going to go back and fight him when I’m already guaranteed for the belt? He wants attention, but he’ll have to take a number and go back to the line.”
The UFC has yet to officially announce a date for Adesanya vs. Pereira, but White said he expects it to be “batsh*t nuts.” Pereira told Trocacao Franca he hopes to meet “The Last Stylebender” before the end of the year. As for Chimaev, “Poatan” has no interest facing him before accomplishing his goal in the UFC.
“These guys wanna make a name for themselves [by talking],” Pereira said. He said that he didn’t think I was going to fight for my belt and it would be a shame. But the way he’s doing it, he’s a coward. He is a coward looking for attention .”
