UFC Titlist Hints at Unanticipated Bout at UFC 312
UFC Titlist Hints at Unanticipated Bout at UFC 312
UFC champion Alex Pereira might be making a comeback at UFC 312 against an unnamed opponent, or he could be supporting Sean Strickland in his bid to reclaim the UFC middleweight title versus Dricus du Plessis, predicted to be the main event.
There's also buzz about Pereira potentially engaging in other activities, but nothing's been confirmed. Pereira shared a cryptic video and message on social media on Monday, fueling the chatter.
Alongside Dricus-Strickland, the Sydney, Australia event features another title fight, with UFC women's strawweight champion Weili Zhang defending her crown against Tatiana Suarez.
Having a third championship bout would make UFC 312 the ninth event in the promotion's history with three belt contests. The last event with this count was UFC 261 in 2021. If you count UFC 300, which had two world championships and the BMF title fight, it'd be the tenth.
Pereira has gained a significant following in the sport, and facing No.1 contender Magomed Ankalaev would be a significant boost. However, Pereira has clarified he won't be facing Ankalaev in his next bout.
The possibilities are intriguing. Could he enter the heavyweight division to challenge Tom Aspinall for the interim title, with the victor taking on Jon Jones later in the year? That appears improbable. How about Pereira versus Jake Paul in a boxing match?
Hold on. UFC President Dana White mentioned something "no one would see coming" during the post-event presser on December 14 in Tampa. This announcement has sparked a flurry of speculations.
With rumors of Conor McGregor versus Logan Paul in a boxing match, who knows what White was referring to? Paul has repeatedly called out Pereira for a boxing match, and Pereira responded to Paul's FaceTime call in the ring in July.
Could this be why Pereira informed fans he won't be fighting Ankalaev? Was this also what Pereira hinted at following his meeting in Las Vegas earlier this month?
We may find out soon, as the light heavyweight champion is keeping us guessing as we move into the New Year.
If Pereira takes on Ankalaev, things return to normal in the UFC. If he triumphs, a heavyweight challenge might be next. If he chooses heavyweight to face Aspinall, it'll be fascinating to see if he ever returns to light heavyweight.
If he opts for a boxing match with Paul, especially as part of UFC 312, it could become the highest-selling pay-per-view event in combat sports history. While some aspects make sense for this concept, it still seems too extraordinary to be true.
Yet, who would have thought Paul versus Mike Tyson was unrealistic?
- Alex Pereira's UFC 312 card has yet to be officially announced, but speculations suggest he might be facing an opponent for a comeback or supporting Sean Strickland in his title bid.
- UFC 312 is rumored to be the potential venue for a boxing match between UFC champion Alex Pereira and Jake Paul, following Paul's repeated calls and Pereira's response during their FaceTime call in July.
- If Alex Pereira chooses to participate in a boxing match against Jake Paul at UFC 312, it could set a new record for the highest-selling pay-per-view event in combat sports history.
- UFC President Dana White mentioned something unconventional during the post-event presser, which has led to various speculations about UFC 312 and Alex Pereira's future fights, including a potential heavyweight challenge against Tom Aspinall.