MMA News

Tag: Alex Pereira

  • Dustin Poirier Wishes UFC Would Bypass Stipe Miocic For ‘Blockbuster’ Jon Jones vs. Alex Pereira Fight 

    Dustin Poirier Wishes UFC Would Bypass Stipe Miocic For ‘Blockbuster’ Jon Jones vs. Alex Pereira Fight 

    We can add former interim UFC lightweight champion Dustin Poirier to the list of those who disagree with Jon Jones vs. Stipe Miocic being the next title fight at heavyweight.

    Not many topics have been debated in 2024 quite like the championship conversation in the UFC’s heavyweight division, which currently boasts two champions, only one of which is keen on fighting the other.

    After an injury forced Jones out of his planned defense against Miocic at Madison Square Garden last November, Tom Aspinall stepped up on short notice to capture the interim gold at the expense of Sergei Pavlovich.

    While that would usually lead to a unification showdown, Jones has remained firm on Miocic being his next fight despite pushback from Aspinall, as well as many fighters, fans, and pundits.

    In the meantime, Aspinall will put his belt on the line in a rematch against Curtis Blaydes at UFC 304 in Manchester this month. The build-up to that July 27 bout will no doubt feature Jones’ name heavily and talk of Aspinall making one last bid to jump ahead of Miocic.

    According to one UFC star, however, a third option should be the leading candidate upon Jones’ comeback form injury…

    Poirier: It’s The ‘Perfect Time’ For Jones vs. Pereira

    During a recent in-studio appearance on The MMA Hour with Ariel Helwani, Poirier gave his take on the current state of the heavyweight division and the ongoing debate surrounding who should be Jones’ next challenger.

    While most of the opposition to Miocic receiving a shot over three years on from his knockout loss to Francis Ngannou has placed Aspinall in the position instead, “The Diamond” wants to see Alex Pereira shoot for two-division glory.

    “Stipe’s been out a good bit. Stipe could come back and be a completely different person,” Poirier said. “Aspinall’s obviously legit; he’s the interim world champion, he’s beat some good guys. But he doesn’t have the aura that Alex and Jones have. … (Pereira’s) starting to get that aura, like a Fedor (Emelianenko) had or an Anderson (Silva) had.

    “It’s the perfect time for it. I would (do it now). Yeah, (bypass the Miocic fight),” Poirier continued. “It’s bigger! It’s a blockbuster, bro. … And in the light heavyweight division, who’s he gonna fight? Ankalaev? Nothing against Ankalaev, but I’m not excited (by that). At the point he’s at in his career, he’s a superstar. I want to see him vs. Jones at heavyweight.”

    Jones himself has noted Pereira as a future option and suggested it sits above interim champ Aspinall in terms of intrigue.

    But just like his division’s other titleholder, “Bones” has refused to budge from Miocic in order to accommodate a super fight with Pereira toward the end of 2024.

  • UFC Light Heavyweight Settles Number One Pound-For-Pound Debate Between Jon Jones & Alex Pereira

    UFC Light Heavyweight Settles Number One Pound-For-Pound Debate Between Jon Jones & Alex Pereira

    When Jon Jones made the decision to vacate the UFC light heavyweight title in order to take some time off before coming back at heavyweight, his former division was left in a strange place.

    The title seemed to change hands constantly without a real dominant presence at the top, until Alex Pereira made the move up from middleweight.

    Having conquered the 185-pound division before losing the title in a rematch with Israel Adesanya, he went on to do the same at 205.

    Whilst it would be hard to argue that Pereira is the most skilled mixed martial artist on the planet, his record and accomplishments in such a short period of time speak for themselves.

    It was only a matter of time, with just one weight class between them, that people started to pit Pereira versus the current heavyweight champion.

    Modestas Bukauskas Says Jon Jones Is Undeniable Despite Alex Pereira’s Achievements

    In a recent interview with InsideFighting, UFC light heavyweight Modestas Bukauskas gave his thoughts on whether Pereira has done enough to overshadow Jones on the pound-for-pound list.

    There has been a debate over the past several months about whether Jones or the lightweight champion Islam Makhachev should be considered the best on the planet, but after Pereira put on another dominant display at UFC 303, he has entered the conversation.

    Bukauskas, who returns at UFC 304 against Marcin Prachnio, cites Pereira as a big inspiration and has briefly trained with Jones much earlier in his career.

    He believes that despite his admiration for the impact that “Poatan” has had, the record books alone show why “Bones” is considered by many to be the greatest to ever do it.

    “I mean if you’re talking about who’s probably the greatest of all time and what they’ve done in the sport, how could Jon Jones not be at the top of that list? Alex Pereira has obviously done a hell of a lot considering like in a short space of time but you know, Jon Jones has literally had about like 10 or 11 title defenses or something like that. When you’re defending the belt like that many times and now moved up to heavyweight and stuff like this, I mean you can’t really deny that. Although, what Alex has done has been amazing but I’d still put Jon Jones at the top of that list.”

  • Dricus Du Plessis Warns Israel Adesanya Being At Peace Will Cost Him At UFC 305: ‘It’s A Dangerous Place To Be At…’

    Dricus Du Plessis Warns Israel Adesanya Being At Peace Will Cost Him At UFC 305: ‘It’s A Dangerous Place To Be At…’

    Dricus Du Plessis recently said that he sensed Israel Adesanya was ready to hang up his gloves after avenging his loss to Alex Pereira, feeling as though he had accomplished everything he set out to achieve in the sport.

    “Stillknocks” is set to defend his middleweight title for the first time against the former longtime champion, Adesanya, in the main event of UFC 305. The eagerly awaited clash is scheduled for August 17 at the RAC Arena in Perth, Australia.

    “The Last Stylebender” is set to make his return to the Octagon after an 11-month hiatus, the longest of his UFC career. Following his title loss to Sean Strickland at UFC 293 last September, Adesanya took a self-imposed break to focus on his mental health.

    The Nigerian-born Kiwi is currently enduring the toughest period of his career since his failed bid for the light heavyweight title against then-champion Jan Blachowicz at UFC 259. Three fights later, Adesanya suffered his first middleweight loss, a fifth-round TKO at the hands of longtime rival Alex Pereira at UFC 281.

    However, he made a triumphant comeback by reclaiming the middleweight title from “Poatan” in a rematch at UFC 287, and Du Plessis believes this victory marks the peak of Adesanya’s career.

    In a recent interview with Hello Sport, the reigning UFC middleweight champion reflected on his faceoff with Adesanya at the UFC 305 on-sale press conference. The South African expressed respect for “The Last Stylebender’s” achievements but sensed that Adesanya is pushing himself too hard for the upcoming fight.

    “When it comes to the title defenses, the winning streaks will never come because he doesn’t have the time, Du Plessis said. “I think his biggest achievement for him personally was beating Alex Pereira. He had this nemesis who had beaten him multiple times, and after that fight, he [Adesanya] was ready to call it quits.

    “That’s what I saw in his eyes as well. [He was] trying to convince me but more so trying to convince himself that he still wants to do this and that he still has what it takes to be the best fighter in the world and as soon as you ask yourself that question – you’re in a dark place.”

    Adesanya and Pereira’s rivalry stands as one of the most intense and storied in combat sports history, with “Poatan” seemingly having shattered his opponent both physically and mentally – only to suffer a brutal knockout in their latest scrap.

    The Brazilian defeated Adesanya twice in kickboxing, and the two have each claimed a victory each in their UFC showdowns.

    Dricus Du Plessis Says Being At Peace Heading Into UFC 305 ‘Dangerous’ For Israel Adesanya

    Adesanya previously stated that the layoff allowed him to regroup and alleviate the pressure of constantly fighting and enduring the demands of fight camps.

    However, “Stillknocks” cautioned that a layoff isn’t always beneficial for a fighter. During the interview, Du Plessis suggested that an extended break could foster self-doubt and asserted that when he faces Adesanya in the Octagon, he will ensure his opponent never finds his momentum.

    “The time off is not necessarily the problem; it can be good, but it can be bad… When you get to the position where you are so comfortable, where he said he’s at peace, he’s happy with what he has, and it’s a dangerous place to be at because this sport is chaos and chaos is the exact opposite of peace.

    “If you’re at peace and you’re getting in the Octagon with me, it’s going to be a problem because I bring chaos.”

    Du Plessis and Adesanya have a tumultuous history, with their fates intertwined long before their dramatic altercation at UFC 290 last July. Their rivalry dates back to when “The Last Stylebender” reigned as middleweight champion, and Du Plessis called him out, vowing to become a true African champion and bring the belt back to the continent.

  • Chael Sonnen Snubs Alex Pereira For 2024’s Best Male Fighter Thus Far: ‘When I Watched O’Malley…’

    Chael Sonnen Snubs Alex Pereira For 2024’s Best Male Fighter Thus Far: ‘When I Watched O’Malley…’

    Former UFC title challenger Chael Sonnen had an interesting pick for male fighter in his and Daniel Cormier’s recent mid-year awards.

    While the real interest in awards comes at the end of each calendar year, there’s been no shortage of action and memorable moments to digest on mixed martial arts’ biggest stage through the first six months of 2024.

    In line with that, ESPN recently released its mid-year awards. A 14-person voting panel including renowned journalists like Brett Okamoto and Brett Okamoto voted on a number of categories following UFC 303.

    And that event contributed to one result, with 100 percent of the votes for Male Fighter of the Mid-Year going to UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Alex Pereira.

    Pereira is the only titleholder to have emerged victorious twice in 2024, with “Poatan” following his knockout of Jamahal Hill in the main event of April’s milestone UFC 300 card with another brutal finish last month, this time at the expense of Jiří Procházka on short notice.

    While that run would perhaps make the Brazilian an obvious and unrivaled choice, one former fighter sees things differently…

    Sonnen Favors O’Malley Title Defense Over Pereira’s Two Knockouts

    During a recent episode of his and Cormier’s Good Guy / Bad Guy show on ESPN MMA’s YouTube channel, Sonnen left his co-host in shock with one of his mid-year award picks.

    Despite Pereira’s dominant performances against two high-ranked former light heavyweight champs, “The Bad Guy” gave his nod to bantamweight kingpin Sean O’Malley.

    “When you look at the Male Fighter of the Year, I’m going with Sean O’Malley,” Sonnen said. “When ‘Sugar’ Sean fought ‘Chito’ Vera, I did not know Sean was that good. I believed that Sean was the best guy in the world. I thought it was competitive; there’s guys that could beat him but he could beat them as well. But when he fought ‘Chito’ Vera and he dominated that…

    “To watch the growth that Sean had (from the first Vera fight), not to mention the pressure he had going from the Apex to top of the bill, a $14.1 million gate, and you’ve got to follow the show Dustin Poirier put on,” Sonnen continued. “There was so much pressure on this young man, who is a showman. … Can you back up what you say? Not only did he do it, he did it for 25 minutes. 15 minutes in he could’ve put the brakes on…wasn’t good enough for him. He tried to finish that fight. … I thought it was the total package.”

    Sonnen’s pick received a shake of the head from Cormier, who was firm in stating that Pereira is the correct and obvious pick.

    Whether that will remain the case come the end-of-year awards remains to be seen. O’Malley would no doubt strengthen his case should he get past his expected next challenger, wrestling specialist Merab Dvalishvili.

    But should Pereira face and defeat the man widely labeled his biggest threat at 205 pounds in Magomed Ankalaev, the debate could be wrapped up.

  • MMA News Today: UFC 304 Star Paddy Pimblett Becomes Latest To Request Custom Shorts, Two Former UFC Champs Could Box In ONE Championship, & More

    MMA News Today: UFC 304 Star Paddy Pimblett Becomes Latest To Request Custom Shorts, Two Former UFC Champs Could Box In ONE Championship, & More

    Welcome to MMA News Today, a daily feature running down the most interesting stories in the world of mixed martial arts. For July 10, 2024, we’re taking a look at:

    • Pimblett has a special request ahead of June 27
    • ‘Rampage’ vs Rashad Evans could potentially box in ONE Championship
    • Ankalaev resumes pursuit of Pereira

    Paddy Pimblett Requests Signature Orange Shorts For His UFC 304 Return

    In recent times, certain high profile UFC fighters have been granted custom shorts from Venum that they helped design.

    The likes of Max Holloway, Justin Gaethje, Zhang Weili, Dustin Poirier and Alex Pereira have all stepped inside the Octagon with their own distinct looks.

    Paddy Pimblett is hoping that he will be able to add his name to this list when he returns at UFC 304 later this month.

    “The Baddy” put a post up on Instagram of him reaching out to the UFC’s apparel partner to make a special request before facing King (formerly Bobby) Green in Manchester.

    During his days in Cage Warriors, before he signed to the UFC, Pimblett was known for competing in bright orange shorts – which he wants to bring back in front of the UK fans.

    ‘Rampage’ Jackson Says Boxing Clash With Rashad Evans Is Being Spoken About For Later This Year

    Quinton “Rampage” Jackson has had to wait a long time to make his debut in boxing due to the saga with Shannon Briggs that never led anywhere.

    Now, he has changed his focus and could be set to square off with one of his greatest rivals once again.

    Jackson and Rashad Evans fought back at UFC 114 where Evans won via a unanimous decision following one of the most memorable seasons of The Ultimate Fighter.

    “Rampage” recently stated during an appearance on the Joe Rogan Experience podcast that he could be set to box Evans, with ONE Championship potentially hosting the contest at their event (ONE 169) in Atlanta on November 8.

    “He’s still trying, but I lost my faith in Shannon [Briggs],” Jackson said. “I don’t know if he’s going to get it done. He talks a good game. I hope he get it done. If he ever gets it done, I’ll be game to fight him, but right now, I guess my first boxing match is going to be against Rashad. I need to get that win back.”

    Magomed Ankalaev Continues To Call Out Alex Pereira Following UFC 303

    Magomed Ankalaev has been as vocal as ever following the UFC light heavyweight title fight that took place at UFC 303 on June 29.

    After missing out on the title shot with the champion Alex Pereira instead facing Jiří Procházka in a rematch, Ankalaev believes that he is the next in line.

    He believes that “Poatan” does not want to fight him and is therefore continuing to call him out whilst making bold predictions for the fight.

    His latest post spoke about why this fight needs to happen next, reaffirming that he will stop Pereira once they meet inside the Octagon.

    “@AlexPereiraUFC kept away from me for a reason, and I do understand this is business @ufc best fight the best and he is the best for now I will keep my (word),” Ankalaev wrote on X. “I will knock him out. @Mickmaynard2 @danawhite nothing better than you’ve seen an event somebody going to sleep”

    Read more on the story here.

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  • Magomed Ankalaev Continues Persistent Pursuit Of Alex Pereira Post-UFC 303: ‘This Is A Promise…’ 

    Magomed Ankalaev Continues Persistent Pursuit Of Alex Pereira Post-UFC 303: ‘This Is A Promise…’ 

    UFC light heavyweight contender Magomed Ankalaev wants the next shot at Alex Pereira, and he’s not shying away from letting everyone know it.

    Ankalaev was ready and waiting to stake his claim for a second championship opportunity in the aftermath of Pereira’s latest triumph — a second-round knockout of Jiří Procházka in the UFC 303 main event on June 29.

    The result at T-Mobile Arena marked “Poatan’s” second successful defense of the 205-pound gold, coming months on from his brutal finish of Jamahal Hill at UFC 300.

    With “Sweet Dreams” having his plans for a rematch delayed by an injury and “BJP” now falling short against Pereira twice in the past eight months, the door appears to be open for Ankalaev.

    But believing that the champ is keen to avoid him, the Russian is not going to stop calling his shot…

    Ankalaev’s Vocal Approach To Securing Pereira Fight Shows No Signs Of Letting Up

    Ever since Pereira’s short-notice victory during International Fight Week late last month, Ankalaev has had the Brazilian’s name on his lips.

    By and large, the #2-ranked contender — who is unbeaten in 12 fights since a shock loss to Paul Craig in 2018 — has been accusing Pereira of looking to “run,” as well as making some bold assertions regarding his chances against the former two-weight Glory Kickboxing champion on the feet.

    That trend continued this week…

    “@AlexPereiraUFC kept away from me for a reason, and I do understand this is business @ufc best fight the best and he is the best for now I will keep my (word),” Ankalaev wrote on X. “I will knock him out. @Mickmaynard2 @danawhite nothing better than you’ve seen an event somebody going to sleep”

    Next, the Russian shared a compilation of his knockouts in the UFC, vowing to repeat the feat at the expense of Pereira — once again tagging White and matchmaker Maynard.

    “@Mickmaynard2 @danawhite I will do the same thing to Alex. I promise you.”

    And Ankalaev’s final comment of the day saw him lay out a “promise.”

    “End of the year he’ll be laying on his back looking at the light and ask his corner, are we back in Brazil this is a promise. I will knock him out.”

    It remains to be seen when or where Ankalaev’s second title shot will come. But he’s certainly looking to do what he can to ensure he’s not passed over by another name in the division again.

  • MMA News Today: Fight Night Weights Show 14-Pound Difference Between Nate Diaz & Jorge Masvidal, Johnny Walker Told He Has ‘BJ Penn Levels Of CTE’ After Sharing Dinosaur Theory, & More

    MMA News Today: Fight Night Weights Show 14-Pound Difference Between Nate Diaz & Jorge Masvidal, Johnny Walker Told He Has ‘BJ Penn Levels Of CTE’ After Sharing Dinosaur Theory, & More

    Welcome to MMA News Today, a daily feature running down the most interesting stories in the world of mixed martial arts. For July 9, 2024, we’re taking a look at:

    • Masvidal put on twice as many pounds as Diaz after making weight
    • Fans aren’t buying Walker’s dinosaur theory
    • Vakhitov says Pereira is defensively vulnerable

    Nate Diaz & Jorge Masvidal Fight Day Weigh-Ins Show Drastic Difference

    With the California State Athletic Commission looking to cut down on excessive weight cutting in combat sports, the fight nights weights for the recent Nate Diaz vs. Jorge Masvidal boxing match were released.

    The most noteworthy result shows that Jorge Masvidal made a staggering near 30-pound gain between weighing in and showing up on fight night.

    After hitting 175.2 pounds on Friday, he then weighed in at 204.1 pounds, which is a 16 percent increase in body weight.

    Diaz, who won the fight via majority decision, gained 14.6 pounds after coming in on Saturday at 190.2, meaning that he put on half as much weight as his opponent.

    Masvidal competed at both 155 and 170 pounds during his tenure in the UFC. By the time he stepped inside the ring this past weekend, he was closer to the light heavyweight mark.

    Johnny Walker Receives Pushback After Posting Dinosaur Extinction Theory

    It’s an understatement to call Brazil’s Johnny Walker one of the most unpredictable characters in MMA today.

    He recently gathered some attention on social media after he responded to an Instagram post from MMA great Georges St-Pierre.

    “GSP” shared a video about the dinosaurs and how they were made extinct and largely wiped off the face of the earth by an asteroid.

    Walker, in the replies to the post, provided his own theory about how it wasn’t an asteroid that killed them off, but perhaps humans did it instead…

    “Sorry champ but i am not sure about it anymore! I don’t believe that a asteroid ☄️ extinguished the dinosaurs 🦖 , it may be the men , take a look at some saints around the world like the flat of Russia that have a dragon and a guy that probably kill lots of it , and Brasil also have a saint , and lots of other cultures have history about some hero that killed a dragon = Dino 🦖! I’m just saying, history always change and the winner of some war tells his side of the truth ! We never know the actually real truth”

    It didn’t take too long before fans took notice of his comment and gave their sceptical reactions to his take.

    The Last Man To Defeat Alex Pereira In Kickboxing Breaks Down His Weaknesses As A Striker

    Alex Pereira has been on an incredible upwards trajectory since making the switch to MMA, but what some fight fans might not know is that he suffered a defeat in his final kickboxing fight.

    After losing a split decision the first time around, Artem Vakhitov got the better of “Poatan” in the rematch before Pereira made the decision to leave Glory behind to really pursue MMA.

    Vakhitov, who has also been trying his hand at MMA as of late, spoke in a recent interview with MMA Fighting about where he believes Pereira is vulnerable, having been one of the few to outstrike him.

    He said that the UFC light heavyweight champion’s greatest strength is also his greatest weakness,but the issue many of his MMA opponents have is that they’re not confident enough to try and exploit it.

    “His biggest weakness is that he is all attack, he has no defense,” Vakhitov said. “Because of his lack of defense, he is open to taking a lot of punches to the head if he’s facing a skilled striker. You saw that in his second fight with Adesanya. He got caught because he leaves a lot of openings for people who know what they are doing.

    “These other guys haven’t done well against Alex because their striking isn’t at a high enough level. They aren’t confident against him and they think he’s unbeatable, so in their heart they are already defeated before the fight starts,” Vakhitov continued. “But I have beaten him before in pure striking competition, and I am sure I’ll do it again if we can get our trilogy match in the UFC.”

    Read more on the story here.

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  • Last Man To Beat Alex Pereira In Kickboxing Highlights His Biggest Weakness: ‘You Saw That In His Second Fight With Adesanya…’

    Last Man To Beat Alex Pereira In Kickboxing Highlights His Biggest Weakness: ‘You Saw That In His Second Fight With Adesanya…’

    A figure from Alex Pereira’s kickboxing past sees some gaping holes in the UFC light heavyweight champion’s game.

    When Israel Adesanya reigned supreme over the UFC’s middleweight division and defeat appeared a distant possibility, talk emerged of one man whom he couldn’t get the better of in kickboxing crossing over to mixed martial arts.

    That man was Pereira, who now occupies the light heavyweight throne having previously unseated “The Last Stylebender” at 185 pounds. And “Poatan” is now the subject of similar discussion.

    In 2021 — Pereira’s final year in the striking-only sport — the current UFC star did battle with Artem Vakhitov twice under the Glory Kickboxing banner. After falling on the right side of a split decision first time around, the Brazilian was outpointed in the rematch, marking the end of his journey in the promotion and the sport as a whole.

    Vakhitov, meanwhile, won a single subsequent fight before making his own transition to MMA, where he’s since gone 2-1 inside the cage.

    While still early on in his journey, the Russian appears to already be laying the groundwork for a third combat sports showdown with Pereira in a different environment…

    Artem Vakhitov: Alex Pereira Very ‘Open’ To Punches

    During a recent interview with MMA Fighting, Vakhitov spoke about his venture to MMA and unsurprising desire to work his way to a history-fueled clash against Pereira on the sport’s biggest stage.

    “MMA was always interesting for me anyway, but obviously I am very motivated by the prospect of getting that trilogy match with Pereira,” Vakhitov said. “He’s a superstar now and I am happy for him, but when I hear people saying he’s the best striker in the world … well, I think it’s time for MMA fans to learn about me and my team, put it that way.”

    Vakhitov went on the break down what he seemingly percieves to be an overrated striking game, highlighting the major weakness he sees in Pereira’s approach. And the 33-year-old used “Poatan’s” sole defeat to Adesanya at UFC 287 in April 2023 as the prime example of it.

    “His biggest weakness is that he is all attack, he has no defense,” Vakhitov said. “Because of his lack of defense, he is open to taking a lot of punches to the head if he’s facing a skilled striker. You saw that in his second fight with Adesanya. He got caught because he leaves a lot of openings for people who know what they are doing.

    “These other guys haven’t done well against Alex because their striking isn’t at a high enough level. They aren’t confident against him and they think he’s unbeatable, so in their heart they are already defeated before the fight starts,” Vakhitov continued. “But I have beaten him before in pure striking competition, and I am sure I’ll do it again if we can get our trilogy match in the UFC.”

    Pereira was quick to respond to his former kickboxing rival, advising the Russian to avoid going down this path off the back of what he described as bad advice from somebody close to him.

    “Poatan” signed off by recommending a Vakhitov whom he described as “lost” to seek management, and he even provided a recommendation for his ex-opponent.

  • Magomed Ankalaev Reacts To Alex Pereira’s Interaction With Anthony Joshua: ‘One More UFC Champion Wants To Run To Boxing’ 

    Magomed Ankalaev Reacts To Alex Pereira’s Interaction With Anthony Joshua: ‘One More UFC Champion Wants To Run To Boxing’ 

    After Alex Pereira caught the attention of boxing great Anthony Joshua to spark talk of a venture to the ring, Magomed Ankalaev has reminded the UFC light heavyweight champion of his presence.

    Pereira has risen to stardom on mixed martial arts’ biggest stage in less than three years, capturing both the 185 and 205-pound titles and delivering some brutal knockouts in the process.

    “Poatan” currently reigns on the heavier of those two thrones, a position he cemented last weekend in the UFC 303 main event by adding a knockout win over Jiří Procházka to his résumé for the second time.

    In the aftermath, many have suggested that Pereira’s success and prominence has transcended MMA. At the very least, he’s captured intrigue from the boxing world, with Joshua, a former two-time unified heavyweight champion, recently backing the former two-weight Glory Kickboxing champ for yet another sporting switch.

    “AJ’s” suggestion came on X, where Pereira was quick to respond. The light heavyweight kingpin admitted that a boxing move has always been his “dream,” and he asked the British star for opponent recommendations.

    “I’m honored you think so. It’s always been my dream, I’m 37 I cannot make a career in it so who do you recommend I fight?”

    That interaction didn’t make for good reading for the man seemingly waiting in the wings for “Poatan” in MMA…

    Ankalaev Unimpressed By Pereira Entertaining Boxing Talk

    Magomed Ankalaev has staked his claim for a shot at Pereira’s belt ever since opening his 2024 campaign with a vicious knockout of Johnny Walker at the Apex.

    And the Russian was quick to reiterate his perceived number one contender status in the moments after the champ’s International Fight Week success in Las Vegas on June 29.

    With patience not part of his approach to securing another title chance, Ankalaev has since remained active on social media, mostly vowing to stop Pereira on the feet.

    In one of his latest posts, the Russian took aim at Pereira for entertaining talk of a boxing switch.

    “@AlexPereiraUFC One more Ufc champion want to run to boxing because he knows he’s going to lose his belt next,” Ankalaev wrote.

    In another tweet, Ankalaev once again promised to shock the community by knocking Pereira out. He also insisted that the Brazilian has no need for a boxing switch until he’s faced his toughest test inside the cage.

    “Me vs you I’m knocking you out the first round You don’t need boxing you need your biggest challenge in your life @danawhite @Mickmaynard2”

  • Chael Sonnen: Alex Pereira Might Be The ‘Greatest Athlete’ Of All Time, Not Just Fighter

    Chael Sonnen: Alex Pereira Might Be The ‘Greatest Athlete’ Of All Time, Not Just Fighter

    What Alex Pereira has been able to accomplish during a short time in MMA has been nothing short of execeptional.

    The Brazilian certainly arrived in the Octagon with some hype behind him because of a stellar career in kickboxing, where he was famed for his one-punch knockout power.

    He already made history in the sport of kickboxing by becoming the first man in the history of Glory to hold titles at two weight classes simultaneously.

    Fast forward several years and he hasn’t just succeeded in transitioning to MMA, he’s become one of the best in the world. As a result, he is one of the biggest names in the MMA.

    And according to this ex-fighter, one of the best across any sport…

    Chael Sonnen Says Alex Pereira’s Greatness Transcends Combat Sports

    In a recent appearance on The Zach Gelb Show, Chael Sonnen spoke about Pereira’s unprecedented rise in MMA and how it may transcend combat sports.

    He made the case that, for a start, nothing like this has ever been done in fighting, where someone is able to reach the very top in effectively two different sports.

    Sonnen also chose to look at the bigger picture by bringing the entirety of sport into question. Once again, Sonnen insisted that no one has ever been this successful in two different fields during their career.

    Pereira’s kickboxing skills are obviously a vital part of what he does in MMA, but even Dana White recently admitted that he once had reservations about how well “Poatan” would do inside the Octagon, where opponents can grapple with him.

    Sonnen believes that Pereira’s career deserves to be looked at in sport as a whole, making some bold claims about just how great he truly is.

    “I can guarantee it never happened in combat sport. I’m telling you, in sport! I’m old enough to remember when Bo Jackson was playing football and went and played baseball, but he wasn’t 36 when he started and he didn’t become the best in the world.

    “I have never seen a rise like this. Basketball, baseball; anyway you want to do it. This might be the greatest athlete of all time. I mean that’s silly, it might be true.”

    Pereira could be in for his toughest test to date later this year should expected plans come to fruition.

    Off the back of another knockout at UFC 303 this past weekend to successfully defend his light heavyweight title for the second time, “Poatan” could face a stiff grappling challenge in the form of Magomed Ankalaev.

  • MMA News Today: Michael ‘Venom’ Page Makes First Statement On UFC 303 Loss, WBC President Expels Ryan Garcia From ‘Any Activity With Our Organization’ After Racial Slurs, & More

    MMA News Today: Michael ‘Venom’ Page Makes First Statement On UFC 303 Loss, WBC President Expels Ryan Garcia From ‘Any Activity With Our Organization’ After Racial Slurs, & More

    Welcome to MMA News Today, a daily feature running down the most interesting stories in the world of mixed martial arts. For July 5, 2024, we’re taking a look at:

    • “MVP” plans to learn and come back stronger from UFC 303 setback
    • WBC refuses to work with Ryan Garcia after latest offensive outburst
    • Ankalaev believes he can exploit Pereira’s striking in one area

    Michael ‘Venom’ Page Speaks On Social Media After First UFC Setback

    Michael “Venom” Page suffered his first defeat in the Octagon at UFC 303 this past weekend where he was beaten on the scorecards by Ian Garry.

    Despite displaying some of his unpredictable striking at it’s best, he was unable to prevent his opponent from taking the fight to the ground.

    Page could have been lined up for a massive fight if he was able to hand Garry the first defeat of his career, but now it’s time to go back to the drawing board for the London-based fighter.

    Page spoke for the first time since the setback via a post on his Instagram profile, where he reflected about learning from this defeat in order to come back stronger.

    “When defeat comes, accept it as a signal that your plans are not sound, rebuild those plans, and set sail once more toward your coveted goal. #ufc303”

    WBC Cut All Ties With Ryan Garcia After Latest Controversial Rant Goes Too Far

    WBC President Mauricio Sulaimán has taken action against controversial boxing star Ryan Garcia after his latest outburst pushed the line too far.

    Garcia made headlines after using incredibly offensive racial slurs and referencing George Floyd during a rant on X Spaces.

    With Garcia’s behavior only appearing to become more erratic and troubling since his clash with Devin Haney, the people around him are starting to act.

    Sulaimán said that the governing body will be cutting all ties with Garcia from this point on and refuse to work with him.

    His post on social media also makes reference to how he has declined the opportunity for help from the WBC on multiple occasions, claiming that they wished to support him through is struggles with mental health and substance abuse.

    “Exercising my authority as president of the WBC , I am hereby expelling Ryan Garcia from any activity with our organization. We reject any form of discrimination. I fear for Ryan well being as he has declined multiple attempts for our help with mental health and substance abuse”

    This latest outburst also led to Garcia’s family putting out a statement, insisting that they don’t support the things he said and that they don’t reflect who he truly is.

    Magomed Ankalaev Makes Bold Claim About Alex Pereira’s Striking

    Ask any MMA fan who the best striker in the sport is right now and you’re likely to be given the name of the UFC light heavyweight champion, Alex Pereira.

    Following his latest title defense at UFC 303, where his devastating stand-up skills were on full show once again, his likely next opponent has made a bold claim.

    Magomed Ankalaev believes that he will dethrone “Poatan” when they eventually meet, and while he would be expected to have an advantage in the grappling, he also believes that he can out strike the champion.

    Ankalaev spoke in an interview with Mike Bohn for MMA Junkie about the one aspect that he sees in Pereira’s striking that he believes he would be able to take advantage of.

    “I think he is a great striker. But he is the kind of guy who always moves forward, and that is where sometimes he might make a mistake. That’s where I might catch him,” Ankalaev continued. “Definitely he has a strong punch, but I think just overall, his standup fight is overrated. Watch his fight with Jamahal Hill; he had something to offer to counter him. Same with the fight with Procházka. … He was probably lucky or didn’t face serious opposition. Wrestling is there, but I’m ready to fight with him standing up.”

    Read more on the story here.

    For more MMA news, check out:

  • Magomed Ankalaev Highlights Where He ‘Can Catch’ Alex Pereira On The Feet In Potential UFC Title Fight: ‘His Standup Is Overrated’

    Magomed Ankalaev Highlights Where He ‘Can Catch’ Alex Pereira On The Feet In Potential UFC Title Fight: ‘His Standup Is Overrated’

    UFC light heavyweight contender Magomed Ankalaev doesn’t see what’s so special about the striking of his division’s champion.

    Alex Pereira finds himself atop most lists when it comes to the current top standup fighters competing on mixed martial arts’ biggest stage. His fearsome reputation on the feet was built as a two-weight Glory Kickboxing champion.

    He’s since enhanced it inside the Octagon, where he’s delivered brutal knockout after brutal knockout to secure the crowns at both middleweight and light heavyweight.

    “Poatan” currently reigns with the latter in his possession, and he cemented that status last weekend in the main event of UFC 303, where he got the better of Jiří Procházka for the second time in emphatic fashion.

    It didn’t take long for talk to turn to the Brazilian’s future, and one high-ranked contender was waiting in the wings to stake his claim with a number of posts on social media.

    And as his campaign for another title shot continues, Ankalaev has made a bold assertion regarding the champ…

    Ankalaev Downplays Pereira’s Striking Superiority

    During a recent interview with MMA Junkie’s Mike Bohn, Ankalaev reiterated his belief that a clash with Pereira makes sense later this year and assessed how they match up against one another.

    Many have long touted the Russian as a future threat to “Poatan” owing to his wrestling abilities. Ankalaev, however, has dismissed the notion that he’ll be outgunned on the feet by what he described as an “overrated” striking game.

    “With Alex, you just have to watch a couple of his past fights,” Ankalaev said, via his translator. “With (Jan) Błachowicz, you know, his wrestling was on a level and Alex didn’t have much to offer. Same with (Israel) Adesanya, they’re both strikers but Adesanya was able to show him some wrestling.

    “I think he is a great striker. But he is the kind of guy who always moves forward, and that is where sometimes he might make a mistake. That’s where I might catch him,” Ankalaev continued. “Definitely he has a strong punch, but I think just overall, his standup fight is overrated. Watch his fight with Jamahal Hill; he had something to offer to counter him. Same with the fight with Procházka. … He was probably lucky or didn’t face serious opposition. Wrestling is there, but I’m ready to fight with him standing up.”

    In pleading his case for a showdown with Pereira, Ankalaev has vowed to knock the champ out. Whether that will be the path he pursues in a potential fight down the line or if he looks to overcome “Poatan” in the grappling realm remains to be seen.

  • Former Glory Champion & Last Man To Defeat Alex Pereira In Kickboxing Training With Henry Cejudo: ‘Chama, We Comin’!’

    The last man to defeat Alex Pereira in the kickboxing ring has been quietly going about the process of gaining experience in the world of professional MMA.

    Artem Vakhitov held the Glory Kickboxing light heavyweight world title between 2016 and 2019, before losing it by split decision to “Poatan” in January of 2021. He reclaimed the belt by winning an immediate rematch against the Brazilian later that year, before Pereira moved on to the UFC.

    With a kickboxing record of 23-6 and five Glory title defences to his name, Vakhitov is certainly one of the most decorated and dangerous strikers in the world today. His professional MMA debut against Ashraf Bashandy in June of last year didn’t quite go to plan when an unfortunate landing barely a minute into the bout resulted in a dislocated elbow and a TKO loss for the Russian.

    Vakhitov has rebounded this year in impressive fashion however, by picking up first-round stoppage victories over Siyavush Salkhov and Valisher Khambaev. Following on from a short but impressive amateur career in which he picked up a multitude of submission wins, it certainly seems the Russian is a fighter to keep an eye on.

    Former Glory Champion Who Beat Pereira Links Up With ‘Triple C’

    In an interesting development, it has emerged this week that Vakhitov has teamed up with a new coach in order to develop his skills in MMA.

    Former UFC two-weight world champion Henry Cejudo posted a video of himself and Vakhitov to social media from the stands at UFC 303 this past weekend, during which he seemed to drop hints that the pair may have Alex Pereira in their sights.

    “So guys…allow me to introduce you guys to who’s training with the ‘Triple C’ next” said Cejudo. “I train the best in the world but guess what? Now I got the six-time Glory world champ, the last guy to defeat Alex Pereira, and we have a message for you!”

    The former Olympic gold medallist turned his phone to show Vakhitov, and the Russian simply replied “Chama.” ‘Triple C’ ended the message with, “We comin’”.

    After the successful crossovers of former Glory champions Pereira and Israel Adesanya into the Octagon, is history about to repeat itself?

  • Ben Askren Says It Was ‘Clear’ Jiří Procházka Would Get His ‘Ass Kicked’ At UFC 303: ‘If You’re Starting To Worry About Witchcraft…’

    Ben Askren Says It Was ‘Clear’ Jiří Procházka Would Get His ‘Ass Kicked’ At UFC 303: ‘If You’re Starting To Worry About Witchcraft…’

    Former Bellator and ONE Championship titleholder Ben Askren believes Jiří Procházka’s violent setback at UFC 303 was inevitable owing to where his focus was during fight week.

    Procházka had his second attempt at regaining the UFC light heavyweight crown in the main event of the June 29 pay-per-view, which headlined International Fight Week in Las Vegas.

    Having previously had his pursuit of the belt he formerly owned stalled by Alex Pereira at Madison Square Garden last November, “BJP” was targeting redemption against “Poatan” at T-Mobile Arena.

    But the Czech star ultimately fell short once again, this time in a much more convincing and brutal fashion. After being dropped at the end of round one, Procházka was finished for good after being sent back to the canvas by a clean head kick in the second frame.

    While many were backing the challenger’s chances owing to the early success he had against “Poatan” in 2023, one former fighter was expecting the UFC 303 main event to play out as it did after seeing some of Procházka’s pre-fight remarks…

    Askren On Pereira vs. Procházka: ‘If You’re Worrying About Witchcraft, You’re Done’

    During a recent episode of his Funky and the Champ YouTube show alongside Daniel Cormier, Askren gave his take on Procházka’s suggestion that Pereira uses “spiritual things” and “magic” from Shamans to help him defeat his opponents.

    As soon as that reared its head, “Funky” believes it was game over for the challenger.

    “I hate it,” Askren said of Procházka’s focus on “magic” during fight week. “If you start talking like that, that is a clear sign you’re going to get your ass kicked. If you’re starting to worry about witchcraft, no, you’re done. You’re not going to win. I said it, I said, ‘Listen, if he’s worrying about witchcraft, this is going to be over quick. He’s going to get knocked out,’ and that’s what happened.

    “When you get that far, it’s a little too far. I said it, I hate this. I hate the fact he was thinking about this kind of stuff,” Askren continued. “(If you are), it’s probably over for you.”

    A video has subsequently emerged showing Pereira and Procházka embracing one another at the airport post-fight, with the champion clarifying his religion and beliefs to his defeated rival.

    “BJP” also made no mention of that pre-fight narrative in his first statement on social media. Instead, he took full responsibility for the defeat and insisted that he must evolve as a fighter or not compete again.

  • Case Made For Alex Pereira Not To Defend Title Against Magomed Ankalaev Next: ‘Wouldn’t You Rather Him Lose To The GOAT Jon Jones…’

    Former UFC heavyweight makes the case for ‘Poatan’ to face Jones next.

    UFC 303 was an unmitigated disaster for the promotion from a matchmaking point of view. The postponement of the long-awaited ‘Return of the Mac’ was no doubt a spanner in the works for the MMA leader as they were anticipating the highest gate in UFC history, and the bizarre sequence of events that led to Dan Ige stepping up on a few hours’ notice to fight in the co-main event is certainly something we’ve never seen before.

    From an entertainment perspective, the majority of the undercard failed to deliver. Outside of Payton Talbott’s quickfire knockout win over Yanis Ghemmouri, there really wasn’t a whole lot to get fans out of their seats during the prelims, and although the welterweight main card opener between Ian Machado Garry and Michael “Venom” Page proved an interesting tactical battle, it wasn’t a fight that impressed the fanbase.

    As has been the case time and time again, however, Alex Pereira stepped up to the plate to save the day. His knockout win over Jiri Prochazka in the main event stole all the headlines, just two months after his previous showstopping exploits against Jamahal Hill at UFC 300.  

    The main talking point coming out of last Saturday seems to be concerning who “Poatan” will fight next. Rumours continue to circulate about a potential move up to test the waters in the heavyweight division against either interim champion Tom Aspinall or two-weight world champion Jon Jones. There is also the possibility he will defend the 205lb belt against the consensus challenger Magomed Anakalaev.

    Brendan Schaub Advocates For ‘Poatan’ vs. ‘Bones’ Next

    Speaking on his Extra Thiccc podcast this week, former UFC heavyweight Brendan Schaub made the case for Pereira to fight Jones next.

    “If you’re the UFC, if you’re gonna risk Alex Pereira, wouldn’t you rather him…wouldn’t you rather him lose to the greatest of all time Jon Jones at heavyweight, and then go, ‘Yeah it’s Jon Jones, he’s going back to light heavyweight’, or you know let’s say it’s competitive, you go, ‘Yeah, he’s gonna fight Tom Aspinall’.”

    “At least you still have options” Schaub continued “because if you give him to Ankalaev and he loses? There’s no heavyweight…we don’t wanna see you at heavyweight. He’s gonna be stuck at light heavyweight. If you give him Aspinall and he loses that…well the mega-fight with Jon’s gone.

    Schaub then urged the UFC matchmakers to make the right decision, keep ‘Poatan’ away from the grappling-heavy Ankalaev – and book him against Jon Jones for the undisputed heavyweight strap after “Bones” is done defending his title against Stipe Miocic [if he beats him, of course].

    “If you’re in the boardroom and you’re Mick Maynard this morning and you’re waking up like, ‘Alright he’s an underdog in all three scenarios…what’s gonna be the biggest fight possible, which is not gonna shoot his balloon down of stardom the most?

    “You do Jon Jones – Alex Pereira in 2025 for the undisputed heavyweight title”.

  • Chael Sonnen Tells UFC, Alex Pereira To Avoid Magomed Ankalaev Fight: ‘Dana White’s A Big Gambler, I Don’t Know If He’s That Big…’

    Chael Sonnen Tells UFC, Alex Pereira To Avoid Magomed Ankalaev Fight: ‘Dana White’s A Big Gambler, I Don’t Know If He’s That Big…’

    Former UFC title challenger Chael Sonnen has some advice for the promotion when it comes to booking Alex Pereira’s next fight.

    Pereira further grew his stock and enhanced his legacy on mixed martial arts’ biggest stage this past weekend by knocking out Jiří Procházka in the main event of the UFC 303 pay-per-view in Las Vegas.

    As was the case with his KO of Jamahal Hill at UFC 300, “Poatan” was drafted in to save the day on June 29. That was after the cancellation of Conor McGregor vs. Michael Chandler left the headline slot open.

    The Brazilian made the most of the opportunity by recording a second win over “BJP,” repeating the feat he achieved at Madison Square Garden in New York City last November.

    While Pereira’s triumph inside the T-Mobile Arena remains the talk of the town, discussion is beginning to turn to what could lie in waiting for the UFC light heavyweight champion, and the leading option appears to be a man long touted as “Poatan’s” toughest challenge at 205 pounds…

    Sonnen: Pereira vs. Ankalaev A Risk ‘Not Worth’ Taking

    Magomed Ankalaev immediately made his voice heard in the aftermath of UFC 303, taking to social media to stake his claim for the next shot and vowing to knock out the reigning champ.

    Like many, Sonnen sees the Dagestani’s ground game as the major threat to Pereira, and for that reason, he thinks the UFC would be wise to pursue other avenues for the Brazilian’s next fight.

    “You’re gonna start hearing about Ankalaev (as Pereira’s next fight),” Sonnen said during a recent interview with Infinity Sports Network. “He’s just the only guy that’s left. The problem there is Ankalaev does have the one skillset — he’s a fighter from Dagestan, which means he has high-level grappling. … And the one style that we haven’t seen Alex dominate or even defeat is that kind of a wrestler.

    “It’s not worth the risk, in my opinion. To take the risk that this guy could get over on your biggest — this guy called Ankalaev…to take the risk of him taking the spot of your biggest star, I don’t know,” Sonnen continued. “Dana White’s a big gambler, man, I don’t know if he’s that big.”

    Ankalaev appeared to solidify his place in the title conversation by viciously stopping Johnny Walker in the first UFC main event of 2024.

    Prior to the no contest with Walker that came beforehand, the Russian reeled off nine straight wins following a shock loss to Paul Craig, a run that included victories over Nikita Kyrlov, Volkan Oezdemir, Thiago Santos, and Anthony Smith.

  • MMA News Today: Dricus Du Plessis Lands Verbal TKO To Israel Adesanya During Heated Staredown At UFC 305 Press Conference, Jon Jones Responds To Rumors Of ‘Spirit Channeling & Magic’ In MMA Following Alex Pereira Fight, & More

    Welcome to MMA News Today, a daily feature running down the most interesting stories in the world of mixed martial arts. For July 3, 2024, we’re taking a look at:

    • Du Plessis has the best reply to Adesanya jab
    • Jones gives his side of the story on the use of magic and spirits
    • Diaz knew his own value before taking McGregor opportunity

    Dricus Du Plessis Makes Joking Remark To Israel Adesanya During Heated Faceoff

    Dricus Du Plessis and Israel Adesanya came face to face once again during the press conference that went down yesterday, for their upcoming middleweight title fight.

    Before the two rivals meet at UFC 305 on August 17 in Perth, they shared an incredibly tense staredown that is sure to build excitement for their eventual meeting.

    Adesanya appeared to be the one to say something to Du Plessis first during the staredown which the middleweight champion was asked about after the press conference.

    He jokingly made remarks about something that Adesanya’s last opponent, Sean Strickland, also chose to make fun of throughout the build-up to their fight.

    Du Plessis referenced a video of Adesanya and his dog which appears to be a bit of a sore subject for “The Last Stylebender”, as was proven after the Strickland fight.

    “I think he said, ‘Don’t kiss me’, as far as I know. I said I’m no dog so I won’t and you know, I don’t really know what he was saying. I wasn’t really focused on what he was saying.”

    Jon Jones Says He Has Experienced ‘Spirit Channelling’ & Magic’ For Himself Following UFC 303 Controversy

    Alex Pereira and Jiří Procházka are two of the most intense individuals in the sport when it comes to fight night.

    Before UFC 303 got underway, Procházka spoke about how he believed “Poatan” was using the help of magic and spirits in his fight, asking him to abstain in their rematch.

    Whilst Pereira offered a classy response to this in his post-fight interview after beating the former champion, UFC heavyweight champ Jon Jones is the latest to weigh in on this.

    He posted on social media about how there is some truth to this based on his experiences of stepping into certain arenas and coming up against specific opponents.

    “There has been a lot of talk about spirit channeling and magic in MMA lately. This stuff is all very real. I felt all types of weird energies walking into those arenas. Looking certain opponents in the eyes. I want to let you all know that Jesus Christ is king, he is and always will be undefeated. Every knee shall bow.”

    Nate Diaz Reveals How He Negotiated A Much Higher Purse For His First Fight With Conor McGregor

    Nate Diaz has always been a cult icon in combat sports but UFC 196 was a moment that changed his life forever.

    The Stockton fighter became a huge name overnight when he stepped into the main event on late notice to fight Conor McGregor in one of the most iconic moments in the history of the sport.

    Diaz was well compensated for stepping up to save the day in place of Rafael Dos Anjos but he did have to put his foot down in order to get a much higher purse than was initially offered.

    He told MMA great Demetrious Johnson during an interview on The MightyCast how he knew what his own value was at the time and made sure he was suitably compensated.

    “At the time, it was (the biggest pay check I’d received). But they were trying to give me pennies for that too,” Diaz said. “I was like, ‘Yeah, right. I know what I’m doing here. I’ve been through it.’ I’d already been into it with the organization about that. So they called me and they were like, ‘Hey, while you’re going to do this, we’re going to give you a million dollars.’ I was like, ‘Hey, you’re gonna give me more than that.’

    “So I got like five times more than that because of that. I knew the game by then and I was like, ‘F*ck that,’” Diaz continued. “Remember when I was telling you about how if I fight every two months, I could be rich. That basic math attitude kind of f*cking times 10, times 100, over and over again. So I knew what it was with the whole money in the business and sh*t. I might not be educated but I’m not stupid.”

    Read more on the story here.

    For more MMA news, check out:

  • Daniel Cormier On State Of The UFC LHW Division Now Compared To Five Years Ago: ‘How Long Can Alex Pereira Reign…’

    UFC Hall of Famer Daniel Cormier has underscored the remarkable transformation within the UFC light heavyweight division, emphasizing the stark contrast between its current state and that of just half a decade ago.

    For years, the UFC light heavyweight belt was held by some of the sport’s most iconic figures, such as Jon Jones, Chuck Liddell, and Cormier. However, none of them experienced the rapid ascent within the division like the reigning champion, Alex Pereira.

    “Poatan” successfully defended his title twice in as many months, most recently delivering a stunning second-round head kick knockout against former rival Jiri Prochazka in the main event of UFC 303 last weekend.

    In just 13 professional MMA bouts and nine UFC appearances, Pereira has crafted an extraordinary legacy. He became the ninth fighter in UFC history to hold championships in two divisions. Remarkably, he is the first to capture titles in both the light heavyweight and middleweight divisions within a mere two-year span.

    With years of fighting experience and his own status as a two-division UFC champion, Cormier possesses an intimate understanding of the fighters and the current dynamics of the 205-pound division.

    “DC” observes that the landscape has dramatically shifted in the past five years, especially due to Pereira’s dominance and exceptional striking prowess…

    Cormier Highlights Dramatic Change in Current LHW Fighting Styles

    During a recent episode of ESPN’s Good Guy / Bad Guy with Chael Sonnen, Cormier delved into the current state of the light heavyweight division, with “Poatan” reigning as champion and his challengers on the horizon.

    They discussed Magomed Ankalaev’s recent challenge to Pereira, where the undefeated Dagestani intriguingly promised not to rely on wrestling in their potential title fight.

    “DC” pointed out that five or six years ago, the top fighters in the division primarily had wrestling or grappling backgrounds. In contrast, the present-day contenders are increasingly reliant on striking skills.

    “Look at this weight  class right now, Chael, I see no wrestlers.” Cormier said. “I don’t see any wrestlers all the way to #10. #6 guy in the world is Nikita Krylov.”

    The former Olympian further assessed the prospects of dethroning Pereira, considering the challengers’ fighting styles.

    “If nobody wrestles this guy, Chael, how long can Alex Pereira reign at top of the division? Because it feels if you’re forced to stand with him and strike with him, you really have no chance.”

  • Jamahal Hill All Praise For ‘Evolved’ Alex Pereira After UFC 303 Performance: ‘Beautiful Adjustments, Bro!’

    Jamahal Hill was sure to have a close eye on the main event of UFC 303 this past weekend when the light heavyweight title was on the line.

    “Sweet Dreams” was unsuccessful in reclaiming the title at UFC 300 after he was stopped by Alex Pereira in the main event.

    Saturday night saw “Poatan” secure another title defense, this time in a rematch with former champion Jiří Procházka where he beat him even more impressively than the first time around.

    Hill broke the fight down in a video on his YouTube channel where despite his hunger to avenge his loss and take back the title, he gave lots of credit to his former opponent.

    Jamahal Hill Says Alex Pereira Looked Better Than Ever At UFC 303

    In his breakdown of the fight, Hill spoke about a few things that he noticed from Pereira that were different to his previous fights inside the UFC.

    Heading into this highly anticipated rematch, a lot was said about how Procházka was winning the first fight against “Poatan” until he was caught by his opponent’s lethal left hook.

    Hill pointed out how Pereira was able to take control of the fight much earlier on this occasion and dominate the contest until it was over, unlike many of his other fights.

    “Great main event, absolutely dominant performance by Alex from start to finish. I believe this is honestly probably the first that I’ve seen where Alex came out and won the fight from start until he got the finish. He didn’t have to come back and, it was still some adversity, Jiří still presented his challenges in it but he adapted and he made good adjustments.”

    Hill also spoke about the technique that Pereira used to set up his left hook that once again spelled the beginning of the end for Procházka.

    Having been on the end of an advancing, lunging left hook from the champion in April, Hill analyzed how his former foe made the adjustment in order to land the strike as a counter whilst moving away from his opponent, different to what he did back at UFC 295.

    “The adjustment that I seen that Alex made from that was the check hook. More so before, you see him in come like he steps in with that hook and he tries to land it leaning in and throwing his power forward. This time we seen him implement it from more of a defensive and a counteractive manner in this particular fighting sequence.

    “The first hook that he landed on Jiří, he hit him and you could see the eyes roll, you could see him get dazed a little bit. From there, he landed another one that kind of wobbled him, that kind of shook the legs a little bit and then he landed the one at the end of the round that put him out, that put him on his back. It’s beautiful adjustments bro, beautiful adjustments. He looked evolved, he looked like he’s taking more steps and getting better as a fighter.”

  • UFC Rankings Report: Alex Pereira Surpasses Jon Jones On Pound-For-Pound List After UFC 303

    UFC Rankings Report: Alex Pereira Surpasses Jon Jones On Pound-For-Pound List After UFC 303

    As always, the latest action on offer inside the Octagon has seen some climb the ladder toward contention and others fall away.

    And in the aftermath of UFC 303, MMA News has you covered with this week’s updates to the official UFC rankings.

    Men’s Pound-For-Pound: Given how firm he’s been in laughing off suggestions that Islam Makhachev should be ranked above Jon Jones in the P4P pecking order, Dana White likely won’t be pleased with the latest update. As first reported by renowned journalist John Morgan, the UFC heavyweight champion has dropped a further position to #3.

    Now in his place at #2 is Alex Pereira, the reigning light heavyweight kingpin who cemented his grip on the crown with a second victory over Jiří Procházka at UFC 303. That result has boosted “Poatan” above both Leon Edwards (#4) and Jones on the P4P list.

    Women’s Pound-for-Pound: A few months on from her successful debut at UFC 300, Kayla Harrison has jumped above Ketlen Vieira (#14) to move up to #13 in the P4P ranks.

    Women’s Strawweight: Gillian Robertson secured a crucial victory at UFC 303, outpointing the retiring Michelle Waterson-Gomez. As a result, she’s climbed two places to #13, leaving Iasmin Lucindo and her defeated opponent at #14 and #15, respectively.

    Women’s Flyweight: No changes.

    Women’s Bantamweight: Mayra Bueno Silva had a strong start this past weekend rendered null by a brutal cut sustained from a Macy Chiasson elbow. The former title challenger has dropped three positions to #6 due to the doctor stoppage, with her victorious rival up two spots to #5. The changes have left Harrison (#3) and Irene Aldana (#4) one place better off each, while Holly Holm has had a slight fall to #7.

    Flyweight: At 125 pounds, Cody Durden has risen one position to #14, while David Dvořák has returned to the top 15 on the final step of the ladder despite his reported release.

    Bantamweight: No changes.

    Featherweight: Diego Lopes had a difficult UFC 303 fight week, going from a Brian Ortega fight at 145 pounds to an Ortega fight at 155 pounds to a same-day notice Dan Ige fight at 165 pounds. He ultimately emerged victorious, and the Mexico-based Brazilian has been rewarded with a two-spot climb to #12 in the featherweight rankings. That’s left him above Bryce Mitchell (#13) and Ige (#14).

    Lightweight: No changes.

    Welterweight: No changes.

    Middleweight: No changes.

    Light Heavyweight: Anthony Smith was another fighter faced with a late-notice assignment at UFC 303. After Carlos Ulberg pulled out, “Lionheart” fought and lost to ranked middleweight Roman Dolidze. The result has seen Smith (#11) fall below Ulberg (#10) at 205 pounds.

    Meanwhile, the Georgian’s celebrations about being ranked in two divisions turned out to be premature, with Dolidze not appearing in the light heavyweight top 15 post-UFC 303.

    Heavyweight: No changes.

    You can view the full updated UFC rankings here.

  • MMA News Today: UFC Lightweights Makhachev, Poirier, Chandler, McGregor Involved In Social Media Throwdown, UFC Commentator Feels Michael ‘Venom’ Page Displayed ‘Lack Of Depth’ In Loss To Ian Garry, & More

    Welcome to MMA News Today, a daily feature running down the most interesting stories in the world of mixed martial arts. For July 2, 2024, we’re taking a look at:

    • Makhachev, Poirier, Chandler & McGregor all trade shots
    • Sanko says “MVP” needs the right dance partner
    • Cejudo still has Pereira grappling concerns

    Top UFC Lightweights Makhachev, Poirier, Chandler & McGregor Engage In Social Media Crossfire

    Some of the top names in the UFC’s lightweight division have been exchanging blows on social media with Islam Makhachev, Dustin Poirier and Michael Chandler all letting their feelings about one another be known.

    The conversation was sparked by a post from Poirier where he said if Arman Tsarukyan is unable to fight for the lightweight title, he would be happy to jump back in with Makhachev following their fight at UFC 302.

    “The Diamond” had also been firing back at Conor McGregor in response to the recent social media posts that were made by “The Notorious” in reference to their previous encounters.

    Makhachev replied to Poirier’s message, as did fellow top lightweight Chandler who then also went back-and-forth with the lightweight champion due to their history inside the Octagon.

    The full series of crossfire posts shows that there is no love lost between any of the four lightweights.

    Laura Sanko Says Michael ‘Venom’ Page Needs The Right Match-Up After UFC 303 Defeat

    Michael “Venom” Page was defeated by Ian Garry at UFC 303 after the Irishman used his grappling to secure the victory.

    Whilst Page had some strong moments on the feet, he was taken down and out-grappled by one of the welterweight contenders who isn’t known for this particular skill set.

    UFC commentator Laura Sanko spoke in an interview with Submission Radio about how this fight showed some of the flaws in Page’s game.

    She said that whilst there are still plenty of options for “MVP” in the UFC, it needs to be against the right opponent after what we saw this past weekend.

    “Yeah, he definitely showed a little bit of lack of depth in terms of the details of the ground game and I think anybody that really appreciates the fine art of jiu-jitsu is going to spot those.

    “There are still plenty of really interesting, fun fights for MVP on the UFC roster. The truth of the matter is he needs the right stylistic match-up.”

    Henry Cejudo Says The Jury Is Still Out On Alex Pereira And His Grappling

    Former UFC champ-champ Henry Cejudo isn’t ready to start calling Alex Pereira the best in the world right now due to one concern.

    “Triple C” spoke on his Pound 4 Pound podcast about how “Poatan” is still yet to face an elite grappler that will be able to take him out of his comfort zone.

    Despite being able to deal with other strikers in emphatic fashion, as he did in the main event of UFC 303, a huge test awaits him in Magomed Ankalaev.

    Cejudo also referred to the fact that Pereira is yet to mention a potential super fight with the heavyweight champion Jon Jones because of the wrestling pedigree that “Bones” brings to the table.

    “Either way, Alex Pereira, he’s not mentioning Jon Jones because I think he knows that Jon Jones has that special sauce, and it’s called wrestling. But that being said, I want to see the fight with Ankalaev.”

    Read more on the story here.

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  • Henry Cejudo Still Unconvinced By Alex Pereira Despite UFC 303 KO Win: ‘He’s Not Mentioning Jon Jones Because I Think He Knows…’

    Alex Pereira saved UFC 303 by knocking out Jiří Procházka in the second round with a vicious head kick. He walked out of the Octagon with minimal damage, and fans are already discussing his next fight.

    At light heavyweight, Magomed Ankalaev is seemingly the only fighter with a case for a title challenge. However, more fans want “Poatan” to move up a weight class and have a super fight with Jon Jones or Tom Aspinall.

    Apart from the loss to Israel Adesanya, Pereira has mostly looked invincible in the UFC. Is he really that good or is he yet to be properly tested by a superior grappler? Here’s Henry Cejudo’s two cents on the matter…

    Henry Cejudo Expects Alex Pereira To Fight ‘Well-Rounded Wrestler’ Before Taking On Jon Jones

    In a recent episode uploaded on the Pound 4 Pound with Kamaru & Henry, the former UFC champions discussed the UFC 303 main event. “Triple C” congratulated the Brazilian but quickly pointed out how the outcome wasn’t surprising because the fight didn’t go to the ground.

    According to Cejudo, Procházka should’ve avoided a battle on the feet as Pereira will always have an edge there. He also thinks that the UFC light heavyweight champion still needs to beat a remarkable wrestler like Ankalaev to prove his well-roundedness.

    “It’s not until Alex Pereira really fights somebody like Ankalaev where I’m gonna say, ‘okay, this guy is the…’ is he the real deal? 100 percent but, could he get past a well-rounded wrestler? Someone who’s going to bring in the grappling?”

    “Triple C” criticized Pereira’s past opponents in the UFC’s light heavyweight division for trying to strike with him. Like many, he believes that fights with heavyweights Jones and Aspinall will truly test his mettle because of the wrestling.

    “The IQ of the light heavyweight division, dude, I think everybody just wants to strike, Kamaru. I think that’s where everything goes wrong.”

    Cejudo claims that Pereira hasn’t talked about fighting Jones because it won’t be his ideal matchup. This is also why the former UFC double champ is excited to see Pereira vs. Ankalaev at light heavyweight first.

    “Either way, Alex Pereira, he’s not mentioning Jon Jones because I think he knows that Jon Jones has that special sauce, and it’s called wrestling. But that being said, I want to see the fight with Ankalaev.”

  • ‘Mortgage On Alex’ – Fans React To Alex Pereira Opening As Underdog For Potential Magomed Ankalaev Fight After UFC 303

    The opening betting odds have been released for the matchup many expect to serve as UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Alex Pereira’s next title defense, and they’ve certainly split opinion.

    Pereira further cemented his grip on the crown at this past weekend’s UFC 303 pay-per-view. “Poatan,” a former two-weight Glory Kickboxing kingpin, headlined International Fight Week on short notice opposite a familiar foe of his in Jiří Procházka.

    Like at Madison Square Garden last November, it was Pereira who had his hand raised. On this occasion, however, the finish came in a much more definitive and violent fashion.

    As if often the case when a champion keeps ahold of their belt, it didn’t take long for a potential challenger to make their voice heard, with Magomed Ankalaev calling for an opportunity to unseat the Brazilian later this year.

    Odds were quickly put out by BetOnline.Ag, with Pereira opening as a +210 underdog against Ankalaev’s -250 line.

    The Dagestani has long been touted as a future champion by many, and it would appear that his wrestling ability has left the oddsmakers seeing “and new” as a real possibility should the UFC match them together next.

    Fans React To Pereira vs. Ankalaev Odds: ‘Is This A Joke?’

    Unsurprisingly, the opening odds became a topic of discussion and debate in the MMA community.

    Having just seen “Poatan” enhance his legacy on MMA’s biggest stage with yet another brutal knockout, some laughed off the odds and proclaimed that they’d be getting paid handsomely for betting on the champ.

    Others, however, made note of Ankalaev’s well-rounded game, which is expected to give Pereira the kind of grappling test that he’s yet to experience inside the Octagon.

  • VIDEO: Israel Adesanya Reacts To Longtime Rival Alex Pereira’s Knockout Of Jiří Procházka At UFC 303

    Former two-time UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya had a stoic reaction as Alex Pereira rendered Jiří Procházka unconscious.

    Pereira headlined this past weekend’s UFC 303 pay-per-view in defense of his light heavyweight title. The Brazilian, who previously held the belt at 185 pounds, was once again tasked with stalling Procházka’s pursuit of two-time status.

    While the finish of their first fight back at UFC 295 last November left many dissatisfied and bemoaning the stoppage as early, that was not the case second time around, as “Poatan” brutally knocking “BJP” out with a head kick and follow-up punches on the ground.

    As has become a common occurrence whenever he enters the cage, Pereira’s latest triumph once again had fans in the arena and at home on their feet yelling Joe Rogan-esque screams.

    But one man’s reaction was a far cry from that…

    Adesanya Reacts To Pereira vs. Procházka 2: ‘Damn, That’s Bad’

    In a video recently uploaded to his YouTube channel, Adesanya and some of his training partners can be seen reacting to the events that unfolded at the International Fight Week event on June 29.

    The Nigerian-New Zealander had a strong connection to the main event, having faced Pereira four times across mixed martial arts and kickboxing, defeating him once by way of KO last April.

    Since the pair last faced off, Pereira has flattened his opponents three times with his renowned power. With that, Adesanya was seemingly not at all shocked by Saturday’s finish and remained stoically reclined on his couch as “Poatan” floored his Czech counterpart with a head kick.

    “Damn, that is bad. Oh, that is bad,” Adesanya said in the immediate after of the finish. “This card was cursed”

    Much has been made about the potential of Pereira and Adesanya competing their MMA trilogy up at light heavyweight down the line.

    For now, “The Last Stylebender” has his sights set on regaining the middleweight gold and settling his grudge with another rival in Dricus Du Plessis, whom Adesanya has gone back and forth with for well over a year.

    They’re set to headline the upcoming UFC 305 event in Perth, Australia, on August 17.

  • Dan Hooker On Latest City Kickboxing Fighter To Go After Alex Pereira: ‘The Amount Of Camps We’ve Done Preparing For Alex…’

    Dan Hooker On Latest City Kickboxing Fighter To Go After Alex Pereira: ‘The Amount Of Camps We’ve Done Preparing For Alex…’

    Carlos Ulberg gets a huge opportunity to leap up the light heavyweight rankings after stepping in as a replacement opponent for UFC 303.

    The #11-ranked contender in the division picked up his sixth consecutive win just recently when he stopped Alonzo Menifield in just 12 seconds.

    He will now be taking the place of Khalil Rountree to face the #3-ranked former champion Jamahal Hill on International Fight Week.

    A win would be massive for Ulberg but it could also lead to a big moment for his team due to the implications of beating the former champion.

    Dan Hooker Says City Kickboxing Is Excited About The Idea Of Carlos Ulberg Challenging Alex Pereira

    Victory against Hill on June 29 could tee Ulberg up for a title shot later on in the year and that means one thing.

    Assuming that the champion doesn’t defend his belt beforehand and lose it, this would lead to the City Kickboxing team going up against Alex Pereira once again.

    The New Zealand-based gym are very familiar with “Poatan” given his four previous encounters with Israel Adesanya but with Ulberg potentially getting himself in the mix at 205 pounds, they have a new match-up to think about.

    On Sky Sports New Zealand, Dan Hooker spoke about Ulberg going on to challenge Pereira if he wins on June 29 and how the team feels about the idea of that happening in the near future.

    “That puts Carlos Ulberg one fight away from a title fight against Alex Pereira so I think… we’re all excited about that cuz yeah, Israel didn’t even know and then Israel, I told him. I said he’s fighting Hill and then he goes ‘and then Alex!’ and then Izzy just got goosebumps man, he was so excited for Carlos.

    “So excited just thinking about that fight as well because like in our opinion, not only do we think Carlos beats Hill, we think he beats Alex as well. We think that’s one heck of a fight but we feel like Carlos has the edge over Alex as well and the amount of camps we’ve done preparing for Alex, we got a pretty solid game plan for that here at City Kickboxing.”