Undisputed light heavyweight champion, Alex Pereira is reportedly not in the running to make a heavyweight move as soon as UFC 313 in March — against Russian contender, Alexander Volkov, with the Brazilian instead currently expected to take on arch-rival, Magomed Ankalaev.
Pereira, a former undisputed middleweight kingpin and the current light heavyweight gold holder, has been sidelined since October of last year, turning in a fourth round knockout win over Khalil Rountree in the main event of UFC 307 in Salt Lake City.
However, overnight, reports emerged overnight detailing how Pereira was working toward a quickfire heavyweight debut at UFC 313 in a return to action in March — with a title-eliminator against perennial contender, Volkov identified for the Sao Paulo native,
Alex Pereira still expected to fight Magomed Ankalaev next
Furthermore, reports from Ariel Helwani for Uncrowned confirmed that Pereira was instead expected to finally settle his rivalry with Ankalaev in the immediate future, rather than take on Moscow striker, Volkov.