UFC champion Alex Pereira responds to Jake Paul over potential fight ahead of Mike Tyson clash

UFC light-heavyweight champion Alex Pereira has dismissed the idea of facing YouTube celebrity turned boxer Jake Paul in the boxing ring anytime soon.

Known as 'Poatan', he had his third fight of the year against Khalil Rountree Jr earlier this month. Pereira successfully retained his light-heavyweight title in a match at the Delta Centre in Salt Lake City, where he emerged victorious with a knockout in the fourth round despite strong resistance from Rountree, who ended fatigued and bloodied.

Following his win, during a discussion with Adin Ross, Paul was confident about his chances in a hypothetical bout with Pereira. He said: "one thousand percent I would beat him," while highlighting weaknesses in Pereira's game.

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"That's the thing is, Rountree actually kind of exposed that he doesn't have a high volume output. He doesn't like body shots. In MMA, Pereira would rip my head off. But boxing is a completely different sport, and the pace of it, and the style of it," Paul evaluated.

"He has holes. I mean, Rountree rocked him, hurt him a couple of times to the body, but didn't follow up on it. So if anything, this fight showed me, yes, Alex Pereira is great. But I know I would beat him in a boxing match, and I still would love to make that happen. Pressure is on him. If he can find his way out of the UFC contract like Nate Diaz did, then eventually him and I can talk."

Over the past months, 'The Problem Child' has persistently challenged the UFC star. Following his latest victory over Mike Perry, Paul seized the moment during the post-fight interview to issue a challenge to the 37-year-old: "Alex Pereira, you said you want to box. I'm the king of this," he declared.

"I'm the king of this. Come over. We can make it happen. I want you, Alex Pereira. Indeed. I just beat a BKFC champion. I beat multiple UFC champions.

"And he said he wants to box. So Alex Pereira, after Mike Tyson, let's make it happen."

Despite Paul's apparent readiness to enter the ring with the UFC champ, Pereira has dismissed the notion due to his UFC commitments. Speaking with Ariel Helwani, Pereira responded to questions about facing 'The Problem Child," saying: "I'm going to be honest, of course, boxing interests me.

"But he knows that I'm under contract to the UFC and I can't just leave. I think that's why he calls [me out] and says all of that. I think if the UFC was a league that allowed everyone to fight everywhere, he wouldn't be saying that."

Pereira is currently taking a hiatus from competing but intends to return early in the following year, eyeing a match against the winner of Magomed Ankalaev vs Aleksandar Rakic. Meanwhile, Paul is gearing up for his November bout with Mike Tyson.

In the same interview, Pereira also addressed his rival Jamahal Hill, who had previously criticised the Brazilian's showing against Rountree. Pereira questioned: "I'm going to be really honest with you Ariel. If that performance with Khalil was s***, where does my performance against Jamahal rank then?

"So, you know what I mean? If that fight was c***, how can he say that? But I'm going to be honest, I'm not going to further talk about Jamahal. I have a lot of respect for your show. But I'm on a different level [than him]."