UFC gentle heavyweight champion Alex Pereira hit new ranges of stardom in 2024 after he defended his title 3 times with a trio of brutal knockouts whereas changing into one of the crucial recognizable athletes on the whole roster.
That stage of success usually results in extra alternatives like Pereira just lately signing on for his first main appearing position after being solid in director Adam Wingard’s (Godzilla vs. Kong, You’re Subsequent) new movie Onslaught alongside names comparable to Dan Stevens, Drew Starkey, Adria Arjona and Rebecca Corridor. He additionally took day trip of his coaching schedule to journey midway all over the world to nook Sean Strickland at UFC 312 in February, which happened just some weeks forward of his personal title struggle in opposition to Magomed Ankalaev at UFC 313.
Whereas Pereira insists he’s not dropping focus forward of his subsequent struggle, UFC legend Matt Brown notes that “Poatan” wouldn’t be the primary high-profile champion to get distracted after tasting actual success inside and outdoors the cage.
“Completely doable [he’s distracted],” Brown stated on the newest episode of The Fighter vs. The Author. “He doesn’t come throughout as the sort to do this, nevertheless it’s 1,000-percent doable as a result of the way in which that you just practice to get there’s, for the overwhelming majority of men, utterly totally different once you’re there.
“He didn’t have distractions developing. He gained GLORY championships and every thing. He didn’t have a ton of recognition at the moment. Now he’s getting hit from all angles. His thoughts, there’s no means it’s in precisely the identical spot, the identical starvation and Ankalaev has rather a lot to show right here. He’s an underdog. Lots of people are in all probability writing him off and he appears like he’s type of been shorted this complete time, having to work a lot to get the title shot and felt like Alex was type of ducking him. I doubt that he was, however it’s what it’s. Yeah, he’s preventing a man that’s hungry as f*ck.”
Ankalaev was arguably already the No. 1 contender within the division previous to Pereira preventing Khalil Rountree Jr. this previous October however he ended up getting one other win over Aleksandar Rakic to lastly solidify his place.
Even then there have been questions if Ankalaev would get the title shot however the UFC lastly got here by with the chance to headline Saturday’s pay-per-view in opposition to Pereira.
On paper, Ankalaev’s dimension, energy, placing and fight sambo background make him arguably the hardest take a look at for Pereira since he turned champion. Add to that, Pereira has primarily confronted opponents prepared to face and commerce with him on the ft throughout his title reign however Ankalaev might not give him that possibility.
“Alex has weaknesses, and he has to place in a number of work to catch these weaknesses up,” Brown defined. “I don’t need to take away from something that he’s performed, however he has had favourite matchups. He hasn’t went in opposition to nice wrestlers or nice jiu-jitsu guys or something, nice grapplers but. We all know that he has these weaknesses. What he must do to proceed to stand up is to place within the period of time that he placed on his placing for a few years changing into GLORY two-division champion and every thing into the grappling.
“As a result of he has to acknowledge that this time goes to return. He has had favorable matchups. I’m not saying that to remove from his insane run that he’s had. It’s been fascinating. It’s been wonderful. However I feel we’d be fools to disclaim that his matchups have been favorable, and he must be placing that form of power and time into making these weaknesses strengths or at the least minimizing these weaknesses. It’s arduous to consider that he’s doing that whereas doing nevertheless many hundreds of thousands of different issues in Australia or no matter it’s that he’s doing. That’s the place I’d concern it probably the most.”
Brown has lengthy praised Pereira for the way in which he’s transitioned to MMA after spending most of his profession in kickboxing. At 37, Pereira is likely one of the two oldest champions on the whole UFC roster — the opposite being Jon Jones, who is 2 weeks older than the Brazilian — and he’s continued to look practically invincible whereas dispatching names like Jamahal Hill and Jiri Prochazka over the previous couple of years.
However Brown is aware of finally Pereira goes to run into an opponent who is actually going to problem him and if he’s something lower than absolutely ready, it’s going to value him.
“I’m not going to say he’s going to get uncovered in some unspecified time in the future nevertheless it’s going to be examined in some unspecified time in the future,” Brown stated. “I don’t doubt that Ankalaev goes to attempt to take a look at it. It’s in his finest curiosity to try to take a look at it.
“Ankalaev doesn’t get the hype round him like different guys have. That’s all it’s — hype. In the event you have a look at it objectively on paper, or simply objectively watch the type, Ankalaev shouldn’t be going to be a simple matchup. That doesn’t imply Alex gained’t go on the market and catch him early like Jamahal Hill and pop him. You already know what occurs when Alex lands a clear shot. It’s at all times dangerous information for the opposite man. However for those who’re Ankalaev, you’re hungry. That is your likelihood. You haven’t obtained the popularity you’ve deserved. You haven’t obtained the hype round you. Everyone is writing you off. All of the betting odds are in opposition to you. That’s simply going to fireside you up much more.”
By means of Pereira’s complete run at 205 kilos, Brown admits that is in all probability probably the most nervous he’s been a few potential upset, however he’s not able to crown Ankalaev as champion simply but. If something, Brown expects this struggle would possibly really function a wakeup name that Pereira must shut down all exterior distractions and guarantee his first precedence stays his personal preventing profession.
“I’m going to stay with Alex. I feel these distractions that we’re speaking about would possibly catch as much as him, they may even present within the struggle. He won’t carry out in addition to he essentially ought to. The issue that I see with Ankalaev, he’s simply not a finisher. If he wins, it’s in all probability going to be a call, and I feel that’s a troublesome path to take in opposition to Alex.
“I’m not as assured as I’ve been with Alex prior to now both. There’s been many fights with Alex the place you’re like, bro, Alex has obtained this within the f*cking bag. I don’t haven’t any actual doubts about it. This one, I’m not completely assured within the decide, partially due to the distraction factor however partially as a result of Ankalaev is simply that good.”
