A recent rumor surfaced that UFC light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira is interested in moving up to heavyweight to face a highly unlikely opponent. The opponent, believe it or not, is No.3-ranked UFC heavyweight Alexander ‘Drago’ Volkov.
Despite being highly ranked, Volkov is not a world champion. He also has no significant beef with ‘Poatan’, so a bout between them doesn’t make much sense. The only other notable time a world champion moved up in weight to face a non-champion was when Anderson Silva faced Forrest Griffin at UFC 101 in 2009.
In a deleted tweet uploaded today, MMA on Point reported on the rumor, saying:
“Per Brazilian reporter Laerte Viana, a heavyweight bout between Alex Pereira and Alexander Volkov is being discussed for UFC 313”
![MMA on Point's tweet. [Image credit: @OnPointMMA on X]](https://staticg.sportskeeda.com/editor/2025/01/20763-17365504623633-1920.jpg "https://sportsandworld.com/mma-analyst-reacts-to-reports-of-alex-pereira-moving-to-heavyweight-to-fight-a-rather-unlikely-opponen.html")
MMA legend and known analyst Chael Sonnen replied to the deleted tweet, saying:
“Have you lost you ever loving mind? This must be a rub.”
Have you lost your ever loving mind?
— Chael Sonnen (@ChaelSonnen) January 10, 2025
This must be a rib. https://t.co/EkkPB5p72J
🚨 The rumour circulating about Alex Pereira potentially moving up to heavyweight to fight Alexander Volkov is FALSE
— Championship Rounds (@ChampRDS) January 10, 2025
(per @KevinI) #UFC #MMA pic.twitter.com/i00lWgkyG9