Alex Pereira Responds to Dricus Du Plessis’ Callout After UFC 312 Win

Alex Pereira, the reigning 205-pound champion, has reacted to Dricus Du Plessis’ challenge following the South African fighter’s recent triumph over Sean Strickland at UFC 312.

Dricus Du Plessis Lands a Bold Challenge

During his post-fight interview, Du Plessis, fresh off his unanimous decision victory over Strickland with scores of 50-45, 50-45, and 49-46, took the opportunity to engage in some taunting. Directing his comments to Pereira, who was standing backstage, Du Plessis asked, “Is there no one else? Is there no one else?” These lines, reminiscent of the epic challenge scene featuring Achilles from the movie Troy, echoed across the octagon.

A Misunderstood Challenge

However, it turned out that Pereira was unaware of Du Plessis’ challenge. His coach and translator, Plinio Cruz, clarified, “Of course, he doesn’t understand because he doesn’t speak English.” It wasn’t until Pereira approached Du Plessis after the show that the misunderstanding was resolved.

The Misunderstanding Resolved

According to Cruz, “Then he came and asked me what happened. I told him he basically challenged him.” Du Plessis confirmed, “So luckily we were walking down, Dricus had the belt, and Alex came to him and said ‘I heard you called me out.’ He goes ‘Yes,’ Alex says ‘Make it happen at 205.’ Dricus looked, thought a little bit, and said ‘Deal.’”

Next Steps for Both Fighters

First, Pereira faces Magomed Ankalaev at UFC 313 on March 8th. After addressing this opponent, Du Plessis will likely come up next. “Definitely,” Pereira said, reiterating the importance of his upcoming fight against Ankalaev and his commitment to facing Du Plessis afterwards. “March 8th, man, we’re focused, right? But this happened, man, I didn’t want to let it go unnoticed. So I asked if it was for me, he said it was, we shook hands and it was agreed.”

The Potential for a Superfight

For this superfight to materialize, the UFC will need to be on board. However, fights for the middleweight title are also in the making. Khamzat Chimaev, a contender for the interim middleweight title, has been vocal about his next shot. But given his recent health and travel issues, the landscape of upcoming fights remains uncertain.

Conclusion

The potential face-off between Alex Pereira and Dricus Du Plessis promises a blockbuster matchup in the 205-pound division. While the UFC may have plans for other contenders, the interest in this rematch highlights the excitement within the MMA community. Fans eagerly await the confirmations and developments leading up to what could be a highly anticipated fight.

What Do You Think?

Will this superfight happen, or will other fights take precedence? Share your thoughts in the comments below, subscribe for more MMA news, and don’t forget to follow us on social media for updates on upcoming fights and player performances!