Pereira calls out middleweight champion Du Plessis

Alex Pereira says he is prepared to move back down to middleweight “one more time” in an attempt to regain the title he lost.

Brazil’s Pereira moved up to light-heavyweight after defeat by long-time rival Israel Adesanya in 2023.

Pereira, 37, quickly become a two-weight champion and will defend his title in October.

But Pereira said on social media he wants to face middleweight champion Dricus du Plessis.

“I want to go down one more time to middleweight and go for the belt,” he said.

“Hey Dricus, bring your will to fight me so you can prove that you are better than me.”

South African Du Plessis retained his belt by submitting Adesanya in August at UFC 305, while Pereira will defend his title against Khalil Rountree at UFC 307 on 5 October.

Pereira was a sensation at middleweight, upsetting Adesanya in his first title shot despite only joining the UFC a year previously.

After five fights at 185lbs, Pereira moved up to 205lbs because of the harsh weight cut he had to go through at middleweight.

Pereira is just the ninth fighter to win titles in two weight classes in the UFC and has achieved that feat in record-breaking time.

UFC president Dana White has suggested Du Plessis could get a homecoming in South Africa in his next outing.