Dricus du Plessis responds to Alex Pereira's desire to return to UFC middleweight: “We will listen to the excuses”

Dricus du Plessis doesn't believe Alex Pereira should return to middleweight

During the post-fight press conference at UFC 305, Dricus du Plessis said that Alex Pereira could go back down to 185 pounds if he wanted, but he's already hearing the excuses (via MMAFighting.com).

“I honestly don't think Alex Pereira should go down to 185 pounds,” du Plessis said at the post-fight press conference at UFC 305. “If he wants to, great, perfect. But then we'll hear the excuses. I saw Izzy beat that man in the first round. I felt Izzy's punching power tonight. Izzy has great timing, he's fast, he's long and he has great combinations, but I felt the power.

“If Izzy stiffs you like that, you don't want to be in there with me, especially if you have to come up with the excuse, 'Oh, I lost too much weight.' That's going to happen. Everyone will say it.”

As for who du Plessis will face next, UFC matchmakers have plenty of options. A rematch between du Plessis and Sean Strickland is a real possibility. There's also the winner of a fight scheduled for October between Robert Whittaker and Khamzat Chimaev.