LAS VEGAS – Alex Pereira is serious about making a heavyweight move.

UFC CEO Dana White said Pereira (13-3 MMA, 10-2 UFC) came up to him prior to UFC 320 on Saturday and asked for a move up in weight class. The request was made just hours prior to Pereira’s quick KO over Magomed Ankalaev to recapture the light heavyweight title in the main event. Naturally, without having the result in hand at the time, White reminded Pereira to focus on the task at hand – getting his belt back in his rematch with Ankalaev (21-2-1 MMA, 12-2-1 UFC).

“Today, I was at work because I had a bunch of meetings and I went over to the (UFC Performance Institute) and he was over at the PI,” White said at the UFC 320 post-fight press conference. “I was like, ‘You’re the last guy I expected here today. What are you doing here?’ and they were telling me, ‘We want to fight at heavyweight.’ I said, ‘Uh, how about you win tonight, and then we can talk about heavyweight.’ I don’t know. There’s still fights here in this division, but we’ll see.”

In the past, White has been dismissive of potential heavyweight fights for Pereira – especially when Jon Jones was champion at heavyweight months ago. White clarified that he’s not fully opposed to the idea of “Poatan” at heavyweight, but he does believe there are better fights for him at 205 pounds.

“It’s not that I have any reservations about it. The guy is in a division where there’s still interesting fights,” White said. “I like the guy so much. We’ll see. We’ll have to talk about it. I just don’t see why, unless he wants to retire. Why throw him at heavyweight? (It doesn’t) make any sense other than he just wants to do it so bad I’ll just say yes.”

It’s unsure at this time if Pereira will compete again at light heavyweight or look to book his UFC heavyweight debut next. What is certain is that Pereira has been a key figure for the UFC, and continues to be so now champion once again of the organization.

“This guy has been an absolute stud for us,” White said. “He’s on vacation in Australia, flies over because someone fell out. He fights when he’s hurt. He doesn’t care, he wants to fight everyone. He wants to go up to heavyweight. He’s a dream to have in this organization.”

This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: Dana White: Alex Pereira requested move to UFC heavyweight division

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