UFC mild 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 turning into one of the vital recognizable athletes on the complete roster.
That stage of success usually results in extra alternatives like Pereira lately signing on for his first main appearing position after being forged in director Adam Wingard’s (Godzilla vs. Kong, You’re Subsequent) new movie Onslaught alongside names similar to Dan Stevens, Drew Starkey, Adria Arjona and Rebecca Corridor. He additionally took day trip of his coaching schedule to journey midway around the globe to nook Sean Strickland at UFC 312 in February, which came about just some weeks forward of his personal title battle in opposition to Magomed Ankalaev at UFC 313.
Whereas Pereira insists he’s not losing focus ahead of his next fight, 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 potential [he’s distracted],” Brown stated on the newest episode of The Fighter vs. The Author. “He doesn’t come throughout as the kind to try this, but it surely’s 1,000-percent potential as a result of the best way that you just practice to get there may be, for the overwhelming majority of fellows, fully totally different once you’re there.
“He didn’t have distractions arising. He received GLORY championships and all the pieces. 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 loads to show right here. He’s an underdog. Lots of people are most likely writing him off and he seems like he’s sort of been shorted this entire time, having to work a lot to get the title shot and felt like Alex was sort 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, hanging and fight sambo background make him arguably the hardest take a look at for Pereira since he grew to become champion. Add to that, Pereira has primarily confronted opponents prepared to face and commerce with him on the toes throughout his title reign however Ankalaev could 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 wish to take away from something that he’s carried out, 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 hanging for a few years turning into GLORY two-division champion and all the pieces 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 vitality and time into making these weaknesses strengths or a minimum of minimizing these weaknesses. It’s exhausting to imagine that he’s doing that whereas doing nonetheless many hundreds of thousands of different issues in Australia or no matter it’s that he’s doing. That’s the place I might worry it probably the most.”
Brown has lengthy praised Pereira for the best way 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 complete 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 ultimately Pereira goes to run into an opponent who is really going to problem him and if he’s something lower than absolutely ready, it’s going to price him.
“I’m not going to say he’s going to get uncovered in some unspecified time in the future but it surely’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 fashion, Ankalaev is just not going to be a straightforward matchup. That doesn’t imply Alex received’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 all the time dangerous information for the opposite man. However if you happen to’re Ankalaev, you’re hungry. That is your probability. You haven’t received the popularity you’ve deserved. You haven’t received the hype round you. All people is writing you off. All of the betting odds are in opposition to you. That’s simply going to fireplace you up much more.”
By means of Pereira’s whole run at 205 kilos, Brown admits that is most likely probably the most fearful he’s been a few potential upset, however he’s not able to crown Ankalaev as champion simply but. If something, Brown expects this battle would possibly really function a wakeup name that Pereira must shut down all outdoors 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 could even present within the battle. 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 most likely 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 up to now both. There’s been many fights with Alex the place you’re like, bro, Alex has received 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.”
