Summary
Dana White puts belt on Alex Poatán. Photo: Reproduction/UFC
Just before the rematch against Magomed Ankalayev No. UFC 320, Alex Poatán surprised Dana White with an audacious proposal: to move up to heavyweight (up to 120,2 kg). In a post-event press conference, the UFC president revealed the behind-the-scenes details of this approach, but tempered hasty expectations.
"I went to the Performance Institute, and he was there. I said, 'You're the last guy I expected to see here today. What are you doing here?' And they said, 'We want to fight at heavyweight.' I said, 'How about we win tonight and focus on tonight, and then we'll talk about heavyweight?' I don't know. There are still fights in that division, but we'll see," Dana said.
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Dana White admitted to the audience that he doesn't completely reject the idea, but that it's something that needs to be considered carefully. He emphasized that a weight class transition has already occurred, from middleweight to light heavyweight, and that moving up two weight classes against heavier fighters requires careful consideration.
"He used to be a light heavyweight, and he's going to move up two divisions in the UFC. It's not a small thing. It's not like moving up two weight classes in boxing. It's a big jump. I don't think it makes sense to put him at heavyweight now, unless he wants to retire or something like that," he concluded.
Poatan brutalized at UFC 320
Meanwhile, Poatan, who knocked out Ankalaev in just 1 minute and 20 seconds, reaffirmed his desire to eventually compete at heavyweight.
He, however, maintained respect for Jon Jones, former division champion, and refused to direct a message to Tom aspinall, which holds the linear title of the category.
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