UFC fighter Alex Pereira. Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Alex Pereira’s coach addresses UFC champ’s anticipated move to heavyweight

By Michael Gallagher | Last updated Jul 4, 2024 2:34 PM ET

With the way things have gone lately for UFC light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira (11-2), it almost feels like it’s a matter of when, not if, he will move up to the heavyweight division.

Amid all the speculation about the future of the 205-pound champion, his coach Plinio Cruz believes a division switch is eventually in the cards for Pereira, especially with an opponent like heavyweight champion Jon Jones (27-1-1) waiting for him.

“I think [Pereira vs. Jones would] be a mega-fight,” Cruz told “The MMA Hour.” “I think [it’d be] the biggest fight this sport has ever seen. We all respect Jon Jones a lot, and I think it’s going to be just a great fight. I’m not going to say [who] wins, they lose, [who] wins, they lose — fight is a fight. But I think it’s going to be the best fight between two great champions.”

UFC president Dana White recently made his thoughts known about Pereira moving up a division, stating he needs to beat a few more worthy challengers at 205 pounds before he tries to conquer a third weight class.

Dana White on Alex Pereira fighting at heavyweight: "I know that's what people want to see" #UFC303

"I'm standing up there with the belt and I had Joe Rogan in my ear the whole time we were up there, 'Let him fight heavyweight. Come on. Just do it.'" pic.twitter.com/GSzpfv0c0e
— MMA Fighting (@MMAFighting) June 30, 2024

Cruz is of the same belief, arguing it’s in Pereira’s best interest to defend his belt a few more times while he waits for the heavyweight title picture to clear up.

Jones is fighting Stipe Miocic (20-4) in November for the belt, and the winner will likely face interim champ Tom Aspinall (14-3) after that.

“I think [moving to heavyweight will] happen eventually; I don’t think right now it’s the move, because let’s just be honest, the heavyweight division is clogged,” Cruz said. “… So for us to be chasing something that’s not even moving yet, I don’t think is the point. … Right now, we’re going to just focus on keep defending that belt over and over again until the [heavyweight] division is moving and we have something there for us.”

Michael Gallagher

Michael Gallagher is a longtime sports journalist based out of Nashville with a decade of experience covering college football, mixed martial arts and prep sports plus the NFL and NHL — specifically the Tennessee Titans and Nashville Predators. He’s covered several notable sporting events including an AFC Championship game, a Stanley Cup Final, an NHL All-Star Game and an NHL Stadium Series. Some of his past bylines can be found at the Nashville Scene, SB Nation, The Hockey News and Fox Sports Knoxville

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