UFC champion Alex Pereira focused on defending his light heavyweight title

SALT LAKE CITY – UFC champion Alex Pereira plans to stay at light heavyweight for now.

Pereira (11-2 MMA, 8-1 UFC) will attempt his third title defense against Khalil Rountree (14-5 MMA, 9-5 UFC) in the UFC 307 main event (pay-per-view, ESPNews, ESPN+) on Saturday event at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City.

“Poatan” has considered moving to both heavyweight and middleweight and even upped the ante in his outing against UFC 185-pound champion Dricus Du Plessis. But ahead of UFC 307, it appears Pereira has changed his tune.

“Actually, I would choose to defend my belt,” Pereira told MMA Junkie and other reporters through an interpreter at UFC 307 media day on Wednesday. “Moving to a lower weight class would take some time and some preparation. In order for me to move to a higher weight class, I also need more preparation. So at the moment it’s perfect at light heavyweight.”

Pereira recently met UFC heavyweight champion Jon Jones. His trainer and mentor Glover Teixeira is confident that Pereira can defeat any heavyweight, but with Jones suggesting that his upcoming title defense against Stipe Miocic in the UFC 309 headliner could be his last, Pereira would rather just train with him.

“I was just thinking about training because Jon said his last fight could be his last fight,” Pereira said. “So I want to go there and learn a little bit from him. I’m someone who’s open-minded and I think it’s going to be great.”

For more information on the card, check out MMA Junkie's UFC 307 event hub.