“That kinda sucks. That would screw up the division. I would rather that didn't happen, if i'm being honest... I think you only get to move up if you sweep through the division, like when izzy [israel adesanya] did it... He had already smoked everybody in the [middleweight] division... I think there's pressure to get pereira at heavyweight because he's getting older. He's had wars. How long has he been active in combat sports? 20 years? That's a lot of sparring rounds, a lot of wear and tear. They probably want to get the value out of him before his body starts breaking down”

– via an interview with James Lynch, expressing concern that Alex Pereira moving up to heavyweight would "screw up the division," and suggesting the move is being pushed because of Pereira's age and career wear and tear.