UFC light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira is expecting to see Jamahal Hill back atop the 205-pound division before long.

Hill was defeated by another former champion, Jiri Prochazka, at last weekend’s UFC 311 in Inglewood, California — a result which casts the American a few rungs down the title contention ladder — but Pereira, who defeated Hill in the UFC 300 main event last April, says that he has no issues with his former foe and wants to see him back in the win column before long.

“I have absolutely no problem with him,” Pereira told MMA Junkie of Hill, via an interpreter. “We’re both the same. Sometimes I’ll go and make some fun before the fight. Or he will [comment on me]. But tomorrow we’re going to hold hands and respect each other. I think all the turmoil that was created is part of the sport.”

Pereira has his hands full with Magomed Ankalaev in his next outing at UFC 313 in Las Vegas in March but also stated that he would be open to a third bout with Prochazka down the line, should that be the route that UFC matchmakers take if he’s successful in his title defence against Ankalaev.

Pereira defeated Prochazka by TKO at UFC 295 and UFC 303.

“He’s number two, but whatever he is, I’m here to fight,” Pereira said. “If he’s number two, number three, number four, number five, number six, I’m just here to fight anybody.”