Czech welterweight Jiri Prochazka has spoken out about a possible rematch with the organization's current featherweight champion Alex Pereira.
"I haven't heard anything. Now it's up to the UFC when they want to make this fight. But I have the belief to win. I will show in the octagon that I am capable of regaining this belt in a fight with Alex Pereira. We just have to wait for the decision on this upcoming fight. I don't have a clue who will be next. But I think the world will want to see our rematch. Besides, I have the weapons necessary to win. Now I should just take a few weeks and get some rest. Get inspired. I'm thinking about coming back in August. Maybe October. But honestly, it doesn't matter to me. If they want me to do some fight on short notice, then chase it. If Alex takes part in UFC 303, then I'll agree," MMA Mania quoted Jiri as saying.
Reigning Bellator bantamweight champion Corey Anderson believes UFC bantamweight champion Alex Pereira is being given comfortable opponents.
"The situation in the UFC bantamweight division is becoming increasingly unstable - in every fight, the championship belt could change hands. Yes, there are those who will say, 'This guy will own the belt forever,' and I'm not denying it - Pereira is dangerous, one hundred percent, but, aside from Jan Blachowicz, who moved him twice and ran out of steam, who else has he fought who could move him? There just weren't any. I don't want to offend anyone and I'm just stating a fact - he's been given convenient opponents like Jamal Hill, and so far he hasn't fought any high caliber fighters who could give him a real test. All of his opponents have been good fighters, but not dangerous to him. He had one dangerous opponent and we saw what happened. It was the same with Blachowicz, but Jan got the fight plan wrong."
Ben Askren, former Bellator and ONE champion and former UFC fighter, has spoken out about a possible fight between Jon Jones and Alex Pereira.
"People would be interested in seeing that fight. If Alex were to have a bout with Aspinall, he would probably have to stop a few of the takedowns. Fans are curious to see what Alex is like in wrestling, if he can defend against translations. After all, if you don't have those skills, Jones is just going to transfer you and sub you out. We saw Pereira get transferred by Izzy. He stayed underneath him for a significant portion of the time.... Let's say their fight with Jones does happen. I think it would be over in two minutes in the octagon. Look at what Jon did to Cyril Gunn. Jon is a big man, a high-level fighter, he has great grappling skills. It's a very likely outcome," Askren was quoted as saying by Middle Easy.
American mixed martial arts titlist Daniel Cormier assessed UFC bantamweight champion Alex Pereira's prospects in the heavyweight division.
"He can have success in the heavyweight division. I'm no longer betting against Alex Pereira and I'm no longer saying he's not capable of anything. Alex has proven time and time again that he can do anything he wants to do. Every challenge has its challenges and every great thing will be difficult.
To think that Alex will not succeed would be a huge mistake. If Alex can be the guy to win a third belt, this dude better be talked about as the greatest fighter of all time," MMA Junkie quoted Cormier as saying.
Recall, on April 13 at UFC 300 Pereira made the first defense of his title by knocking out Jamal Hill.
Former bantamweight champion Jan Blachowicz has once again talked about wanting a rematch with current titleholder Alex Pereira, to whom he lost by a controversial split judges' decision last July.
"He's not a better fighter than me and I think I deserve a rematch. When he fights against me, I will still think I will win that fight.
The judges give different scores, but I believe I won the first fight against him and I believe I deserve a rematch. He knocked everyone out - not me. When I come back, I believe I can fight him again," Fanatics View quoted Blachowicz as saying.