Alex Pereira has heard Israel Adesanya’s worries about where his head is before UFC 335, and he isn’t buying them.
Speaking to MMAJunkie just under a month out from his December 12 co-main event against Sergei Pavlovich, the 39-year-old Brazilian said he has always gamed out both winning and losing before his fights. He added that facing the possibility of a loss is what gives him confidence and locks him into the fight.
The spark was something Pereira said earlier in the build. If Pavlovich beats him, Pereira plans to drop back to light heavyweight and walk right into a title shot instead of sticking around at heavyweight to chase a belt. Adesanya, his former rival, said he didn’t like Pereira “putting that out there” and questioned whether that’s the right mindset heading into a fight this big.
Pereira’s response was direct.
“You know, maybe people are noticing it more now and I’m sure Adesanya doesn’t watch all of my interviews but I’ve always played it out, you know, winning and losing in all of my fights and I feel like when I consider that losing is a possibility, which it is, it gives me more confidence and gets me into the fight, I’ve always done that, I’ve always looked at the upside and downside to all of my fights,” Pereira told MMAJunkie.
The stakes in December are large. This is only his second appearance at heavyweight, and a win over the hard-hitting Russian could put him in line for the heavyweight title and another crack at becoming the first three-division champion in UFC history. Dana White is on board with Pereira being next for the belt if he gets past Pavlovich, which would mean a shot at the winner of Ciryl Gane vs. Josh Hokit.
The fallback plan makes sense on paper, too. At 205 pounds, Pereira would once again be the biggest man in the division, and he has already beaten several of the fighters sitting near the top of it. At heavyweight he gives up size to pretty much everyone, Pavlovich included.
My take: I’ll always side with a fighter who answers the question honestly over one who swears on media day that losing never crosses his mind. Every fighter has an exit plan. Pereira just said his out loud, and Adesanya, of all people, should know the man doesn’t scare off a fight because he’s thought about the downside. What actually matters is the size gap against a heavyweight who hits like Pavlovich, and we find out on December 12 whether that plan stays in his back pocket.
