Sean Strickland Talks Potential Rematch with Alex Pereira: “I’m Not Scared, but I Might Get Knocked Out Again”

Former undisputed middleweight champion Sean Strickland has spoken candidly about the possibility of a rematch with fellow former titleholder Alex Pereira. Despite expressing confidence and not feeling intimidated by Pereira, Strickland acknowledges the risk of being knocked out again if they face each other in the future.

Strickland, currently ranked as the number one middleweight challenger, recently secured a victory over former title contender Paulo Costa in May. This win came as part of UFC 302, held in Newark, New Jersey, where Strickland co-headlined the event.

On the other hand, Brazilian favorite Alex Pereira, who holds the undisputed light heavyweight title, is set to headline UFC 307 later this year. He will defend his title against Khalil Rountree. Pereira previously defeated Jiri Prochazka with a powerful second-round high kick in their rematch during International Fight Week in June.

With Dricus du Plessis securing a win over former champion Israel Adesanya at UFC 305 earlier this month, Strickland is now scheduled to face du Plessis in a rematch of their controversial UFC 297 title fight. This upcoming bout is expected to take place in North America, with Strickland eager to set the record straight.

Amidst speculation about a potential rematch between Strickland and Pereira, Strickland’s head coach, Eric Nicksick, hinted that the rematch might be unlikely. Despite this, Strickland remains open to the idea but is realistic about his chances. In a recent video, Strickland shared his thoughts with Pereira’s head coach, Plinio Cruz:

“I’m not scared of Alex Pereira, but my chin — I’ll just go to sleep. It’s a weird thing,” Strickland explained. “For me to knock Alex out, he has to do something really stupid. If you gave me one free shot and said give everything you can, I’m not knocking him out.”

Strickland elaborated further, “But if you do that to Alex, everybody on the roster’s going to sleep. I just know that no matter what I do, he’s going to eat it, and if he just touches me one good one — good night.”

While Strickland is not daunted by the idea of facing Pereira again, he is fully aware of the formidable challenge that Pereira presents. As Strickland prepares for his upcoming fights, the possibility of a rematch with Pereira continues to intrigue fans and analysts alike.