Anthony Smith would love to take on Alex Pereira at Light Heavyweight.
After Pereira suffered a knockout loss to Israel Adesanya at UFC 287 to lose the middleweight title, he announced he was moving up to light heavyweight. Since the announcement, Pereira has not had his next fight booked, but Smith – who is set to face Johnny Walker at UFC Charlotte – said he would love the chance to face the Brazilian. But, “Lionheart” also didn’t think moving up to 205 pounds would be good for Pereira.
“Yeah, I love that fight. I’m a big fan of Alex, I’m a big fan of kickboxing, so I knew who Alex Pereira was before he came to the MMA side,” Smith He said on UFC Charlotte’s media day. “I was excited when I saw him get booked in the LFA, I didn’t doubt he’d be on the regional scene for a long time just because of the kind of athlete he is. I think the same problems he might have outside of Israel Adesanya at 185, he’ll have at 205. I’m impressed Chief Israel Adesanya, I don’t want to take anything away from this guy. But, if Izzy doubles you down and controls you on the ground, a guy like Rakić or Ankalev or Balashović or I will give you the same trouble.”
Although Anthony Smith thinks Alex Pereira might struggle at 205, he knows the Brazilian will put up a big fight in his debut, so he’s more than open to welcoming him at 205lbs. Whether or not the UFC had any interest in that fight is uncertain at this time.
However, before Smith-Pereira becomes a possibility, ‘Lionheart’ will need to defeat Walker in the co-main event of the UFC Charlotte card this weekend. Smith is also looking to get back in the winning column in that fight after losing by TKO to Magomed Ankalaev the last time around.
Would you like to see Anthony Smith vs. Alex Pereira at 205lbs?