Alex Pereira Dismisses Dricus du Plessis’ Challenge, Citing Size Difference

Following his successful title defense at UFC 312, middleweight champion Dricus du Plessis issued a challenge to light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira. However, according to former two-division champion Daniel Cormier, Pereira was unimpressed by the callout.

Cormier, who was part of the commentary team for the event, shared Pereira’s reaction on his YouTube channel. According to Cormier, when he informed Pereira about du Plessis’ challenge, the Brazilian fighter simply responded, “This man is just too small.”

The size difference between the two fighters was apparent at the event, with Cormier noting that Pereira looked significantly larger compared to du Plessis. Despite du Plessis’ ambitious goals, Cormier believes the middleweight champion should focus on defending his title, particularly against the formidable Khamzat Chimaev, before considering a move up in weight class.

During the post-fight press conference, du Plessis confirmed his intention to face Chimaev next, aiming for his third title defense. Cormier praised du Plessis’ performance at UFC 312, acknowledging his skill and dominance in the octagon.

While a champion vs. champion fight between du Plessis and Pereira would undoubtedly generate significant interest, it appears that for now, the size difference remains a major obstacle in the eyes of the light heavyweight champion.