Alex Pereira responds to cryptic Tom Aspinall post after calling for heavyweight fight in three weeks following emphatic UFC 300 win

Tom Aspinall has given a big indication of who he wants his next opponent to be.

Following Alex Pereira’s brutal knockout of Jamahal Hill in the main event of UFC 300, the current interim heavyweight champion posted a cryptic photo of himself looking at the Brazilian as he made his walk in the Las Vegas octagon.

The British MMA star posted the photo on Instagram without a caption, fueling speculation that Pereira is the man he wants next.

This post came after Poatan made clear his desire to move up to the heavyweight division in the very near future.

During his post-fight interview, the Brazilian outlined his ambition to fight at heavyweight on the Rio de Janeiro card in his home country next month.

“I’m not injured. I want to fight in Brazil. I know it’s a short time, but let’s see what happens… I know there has to be a promotion for a title fight, so I don’t care, let me fight at heavyweight (at UFC 301),” he said.

Pereira is already a two-division UFC champion, but it appears his eyes are firmly set on becoming the first fighter in the promotion’s history to hold titles in three different weight classes.

Such a move could result in a colossal showdown with Aspinall, which both fighters have previously spoken about.

Aspinall’s latest Instagram post suggests he is ready to fight, but Pereira is keeping his cards close to his chest.

The Brazilian was asked about Aspinall’s cryptic photo during his post-fight press conference, but remained coy.

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He said: “I don’t know man, only he can answer that.

“I’m not going to name names here, I said I want to fight at heavyweight, so why should I choose (the opponent).”

Recently, Aspinall appeared to no longer wait for the winner of Jon Jones vs. Stipe Miocic, mentioning Curtis Blaydes as a possible opponent for the rumored UFC card in Manchester in July.

However, Pereira’s desire to move up to heavyweight could alter those plans, with a possible heavyweight showdown in Rio next month too enticing to turn down.

Fight fans are apparently up for the fight and have suggested it’s “the next fight to make.”

“This is the next fight to be made,” one fan posted.

“Poatan looked so big at middleweight, he moved up to light heavyweight and still looks bigger than most of their fighters.

“Give him Aspinall before Jones fights Miocic, retires and drops the belt.”

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