Alex Pereira is deep in preparation for his upcoming title fight at UFC 307 against Khalil Rountree Jr, but that hasn't stopped the Brazilian superstar from starting beef with a whole host of top contenders.
In fact, 'Poatan' has recently been embroiled in a bitter back-and-forth with middleweight champion Dricus Du Plessis, with the pair exchanging yet more insults at UFC 306 in Las Vegas.
Alex Pereira was in attendance for Noche UFC this past weekend and speaking to Full Send MMA, continued to tease that he could soon be making a move back down to 185lbs, rather than up to heavyweight, in the hope of re-capturing his old belt.
"Dricus is definitely an easier fight than fighting Jon Jones - I think making weight would be harder than that fight," as he explained that after a few bouts at 205lbs, his body is ready to make that drain back down to middleweight.
"I did stop making that weight class because my body needed a break for two, three fights without having to do that cut. Now I think I have rested long enough - I think I can definitely do that cut and make the fight happen.
"But it depends on him, I showed interest many times, but he never replied. The way that he presents himself, he always jokes when he responds. Like he said that stuff about Strickland for example, he's never serious."
According to Pereira, DDP refuses to take speculation on his move back down to middleweight seriously because he is terrified of how that title matchup would play out: "He's always trolling somehow when the subject is presented to him.
"He never takes it seriously, so it shows that he's scared, clown."
Unsurprisingly, it didn't take long for the South African brawler to react to the insult as he took to X with a rather sarcastic response locked and loaded.
"A scared clown - how dare you! Now that's taking it too far. I've already said I'm in to fight either you or Sean Strickland. What more do you want or should I tag your translator?"
After claiming the belt from Strickland, Du Plessis bested Israel Adesanya via a fourth-round submission last month in Australia.
Interestingly, Alex Pereira was also in the news post-Noche after an intriguing run-in with undisputed heavyweight champion Jon Jones, whose fight with Stipe Miocic has just been confirmed for UFC 309 in November.
Despite the two calling each other out only a few months ago, Pereira revealed that he's offering his services to Jones for his upcoming clash with Miocic at MSG.
"I think there's some good time, his fight is only in November. There's always something coming off a fight, a small injury, so we can get some rest and then train together. A lot of people talk about this superfight but I think I have to make the most of this guy's experience."
Pereira faces Khalil Rountree Jr in the main event of UFC 307 on October 6, with Jones vs Miocic set for November 16 at Madison Square Garden.
"He has a ton of experience, but people are talking about him maybe doing only one or two fights more, and I'm not even at heavyweight yet. I don't know if that's possible, but I want to at least be training with him."
We'll have to see whether Pereira will make that highly anticipated move back down to middleweight after October 6, or whether he delays the move in order to help Jones train for the heavyweight showdown in November.