UFC Middleweight Champion Dricus Du Plessis was left frustrated after Alex Pereira’s loss to Magomed Ankalaev at UFC 313, which seemingly dashed the possibility of a high-profile showdown between him and Pereira.
In the main event, Ankalaev secured a decision victory over Pereira to claim the light heavyweight title, halting the Brazilian’s ambitions of simultaneously challenging champions across different divisions. Among those potential matchups was a highly anticipated fight with Du Plessis, who had previously expressed interest in welcoming Pereira back to the middleweight division.
Pereira had briefly held the UFC middleweight title after defeating Israel Adesanya in 2022, only to lose it in an immediate rematch. Following that setback, he moved to the light heavyweight division and quickly claimed gold. However, Du Plessis believes Pereira’s options are now limited with his recent defeat, making their fight unlikely.
“Thanks, Ankalaev, for taking the biggest payday of my life,” Du Plessis remarked in a YouTube vlog, expressing his disappointment. “It’s nothing personal. Aura gone.”
Watching the fight live, Du Plessis was critical of Pereira’s performance. He has long believed that he holds the key to neutralizing Pereira’s striking and has even predicted that he would knock out the former champion if they ever fought.
He pointed out that Ankalaev employed the exact strategy necessary to stifle Pereira’s offense, further reinforcing his confidence in how he would approach the fight.
“If you don’t fight Pereira, he can’t fight,” Du Plessis commented. “Look at this—he’s waiting for something. He’s just looking to counter. People pay money for this?”
With Pereira now focusing on reclaiming the light heavyweight belt, his immediate future seems set on an Ankalaev rematch, which UFC CEO Dana White has already endorsed.
Meanwhile, Du Plessis is expected to shift his attention to Khamzat Chimaev, a rising undefeated contender, after overcoming challenges from Israel Adesanya and Sean Strickland. While a blockbuster fight with Pereira could have been a lucrative opportunity, Du Plessis will now have to look elsewhere for his next big payday.
