Pereira focused on Ankalaev rematch: I want to 'get my belt back'
Former UFC two-division champion Alex Pereira is dead set on running it back with Magomed Ankalaev.
Pereira said Friday he's focused on regaining the light heavyweight title amid speculation he could move up to the heavyweight division in his next fight. "Poatan" dropped the 205-pound belt in a unanimous decision loss to Ankalaev at UFC 313 in March.
"My focus right now is fighting Ankalaev. ... Get my belt back, and then we'll see what happens after," Pereira told MMA Fighting's Jose Youngs.
The 37-year-old Brazilian said he wants to return to the Octagon in September, October, or November.
"For me, it makes no difference," Pereira said. "I want to fight."
With heavyweight champion Jon Jones sitting on the sidelines for the foreseeable future, some fans have shown interest in Pereira moving up in weight to face Tom Aspinall for the undisputed heavyweight title. But Pereira said he would prefer to retake the light heavyweight throne before changing divisions.
"Let those guys kill each other in that weight class," Pereira said. "Right now, I'm just focusing on light heavyweight."