‘Bad idea’ – Tom Aspinall’s UFC 304 opponent advises Alex Pereira against moving to heavyweight

Curtis Blaydes thinks it’s a bad idea for Alex Pereira to move up in weight again.

‘Poatan’ was the UFC middleweight champion before being dethroned by Israel Adesanya and deciding to take on the light-heavyweight division in July 2023.

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Since then, Pereira has picked four wins and the 205lb UFC belt, which he defended by brutally knocking out ex-champion Jiri Prochazka at UFC 303 last month.

During his post-fight interview, the Brazilian teased a potential move to heavyweight and fans quickly became excited about him becoming Dana White's first three-weight champion.

Blaydes could potentially be the man he needs to beat to achieve the incredible feat after he’s rematched interim champion Tom Aspinall at UFC 304 on Saturday night.

‘Razor’ thinks Pereira will struggle against the biggest and best heavyweights.

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“Bad idea,” Blaydes said at the UFC 304 media day when asked about Pereira’s potential move up to his division.

“I’ll give him my premeditated plan. I’m going to shoot [for a takedown] immediately.

"Why would I give him any chance to knock me out on the feet when I know I can take him down at will? I’m sure he has to know that.

"I think he’s looking for a specific heavyweight, not any heavyweight. I could see him beating Tai [Tuivasa] [and] maybe some other guys at the bottom of the top 15.

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"If you give him a top-five guy with some real weight he’s not winning."

Pereira KO’d his UFC debut opponent with an epic flying knee, but Blaydes is not concerned about potentially taking a big whack to the chin as he pursues a takedown.

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He added: "I'm gonna eat that knee."

"I ate a knee from Alistair [Overeem]. Do you think he throws harder knees than Alistair?

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"I know he's got the aura going on right now, but I ate a knee from 265lb Alistair. I'm good with eating knees.

"I would f*** up Alex Pereira. It's not that he's not good. I'm heavier than he is. Weight and gravity matters. That's just how it is."