UFC light-heavyweight champion Alex Pereira has responded to Jake Paul's call-out, insisting that he won't be leaving the UFC anytime soon despite his interest in boxing
UFC light-heavyweight champion Alex Pereira has dismissed the notion of stepping into the boxing ring with Jake Paul anytime soon.
"Poatan" stepped into the octagon for his third bout of the year against Khalil Rountree Jr. earlier in the month. The Brazilian star successfully retained his light-heavyweight title against the American at Salt Lake City's Delta Centre.
Despite a valiant effort from Rountree, he was visibly exhausted and battered by the championship rounds, leading to Pereira claiming victory with a knockout in the fourth round. Following the match, during a conversation with Adin Ross, Paul was questioned about how he'd fare in a boxing match with Pereira.
"One thousand percent I would beat him," Paul claimed. He went on to critique Pereira's performance, saying: "That's the thing is, Rountree actually kind of exposed that he doesn't have a high volume output. He doesn't like body shots. In MMA, Pereira would rip my head off. But boxing is a completely different sport, and the pace of it, and the style of it.
"He has holes. I mean, Rountree rocked him, hurt him a couple of times to the body, but didn't follow up on it. So if anything, this fight showed me, yes, Alex Pereira is great. But I know I would beat him in a boxing match, and I still would love to make that happen. Pressure is on him. If he can find his way out of the UFC contract like Nate Diaz did, then eventually him and I can talk."
"The Problem Child" has been throwing challenges at the UFC superstar, and didn't miss a beat to do so after triumphing over Mike Perry. In the adrenaline-charged moment following his victory, Paul declared during the interview: "And Alex Pereira, Alex Pereira, you said you want to box. I'm the king of this. I'm the king of this.
"Come over. We can make it happen. I want you, Alex Pereira. Indeed. Indeed. I just beat a BKFC champion. I beat multiple UFC champions. And he said he wants to box. So Alex Pereira, after Mike Tyson, let's make it happen."
While Paul is keen on stepping into the ring with the UFC champ, Pereira seemed to have different thoughts on the match-up. On Ariel Helwani's show, when prodded about the possibility of a bout with Paul, Pereira 'Poatan' disclosed: "I'm going to be honest, of course, boxing interests me. But he knows that I'm under contract to the UFC and I can't just leave. I think that's why he calls [me out] and says all of that."
He wrapped up by speculating: "I think if the UFC was a league that allowed everyone to fight everywhere, he wouldn't be saying that."
Pereira has decided to take some time off from the sport, yet he vows to make a comeback early next year, potentially facing the winner of the upcoming match between Magomed Ankalaev and Aleksandar Rakic. Meanwhile, the 27-year-old Paul is gearing up for his bout with Mike Tyson come November.
Pereira also shared his thoughts on Jamahal Hill's criticism of his fight with Rountree during the same interview: "I'm going to be really honest with you Ariel. If that performance with Khalil was ----, where does my performance against Jamahal rank then? So, you know what I mean? If that fight was ----, how can he say that? But I'm going to be honest, I'm not going to further talk about Jamahal. I have a lot of respect for your show. But I'm on a different level (than him)."
