A humorous factor occurred to Alex Pereira throughout his late profession transition from skilled kickboxing to combined martial arts.
The Brazilian slugger turned an unlikely breakout star, two-division champion and future Corridor of Famer.
And the scariest half? At age 36, “Poatan” is barely getting higher with every historical past making efficiency.
Pereira (11-2) continued his distinctive and largely unprecedented march into the MMA report books by returning on simply 77 days’ discover on Saturday (regardless of a pair of damaged toes) to avoid wasting a floundering UFC 303 card headlining Worldwide Battle Week in Las Vegas and ship a violent head-kick knockout of former champion Jiri Prochazka of their last-minute rematch.
Not solely was the victory even simpler than the second-round stoppage he delivered of Prochazka for the vacant title final November, Pereira appeared to tug the whole factor off — from accepting the battle late to being accused of utilizing black magic by Prochazka throughout battle week — with the identical scary nonchalance that has turn out to be his calling card.
By turning into a two-division UFC champion, headlining large pay-per-view playing cards and scoring a whopping six victories over present or former champions in simply 9 journeys to the Octagon, Pereira has redefined what is feasible during the last three-plus years. And he has accomplished so by cleansing up the pure rising pains that come from transitioning from the highest degree of 1 fight sport (after a Corridor-of-Fame run as a two-division Glory kickboxing champion) to a different in basically report time.
When Pereira first got here to the UFC in 2021, he was seen as nothing greater than a specialist who might be able to lower the road within the middleweight title rankings due to his historical past with then-champion Israel Adesanya, which noticed Pereira rating a pair of upset wins over him in kickboxing. However Pereira has shortly turn out to be way more than that by counting on his unbelievable focus, battle IQ and approach to make the scary energy he already holds in all 4 placing limbs much more harmful.
The fact is that Pereira should not be this good, particularly given the entire expertise he would not have as a floor fighter. However he has developed so shortly below head coach and mentor Glover Teixeira that it virtually hasn’t mattered as Pereira’s gasoline tank, chin and competitiveness have helped him eradicate errors.
One would assume Pereira’s unprecedented success would permit him to name his personal pictures throughout the UFC, however CEO Dana White stated after UFC 303 that he would favor “Poatan” defend his 205-pound title belt just a few extra instances earlier than doing what the fighter continues to publicly push for. That, after all, is a shot at MMA immortality by being allowed to maneuver as much as heavyweight looking for turning into the primary three-division champion in UFC historical past.
In a single sense, what White says is not loopy. Not solely is the heavyweight title image already a convoluted mess resulting from interim champion Tom Aspinall’s rise and the seeming disinterest defending champion Jon Jones has in ever going through him, Pereira hasn’t even been mild heavyweight champion for a full yr.
However each occasionally the foundations of regular fight sports activities promotion get thrown out the window when there is a specialty case at hand. Pereira, on this case, is undoubtedly particular due to the distinctive nature of his in a single day stardom and the truth that he is on the verge of some reliable (and unchartered) historical past.
Even with the potential of a title trilogy with Adesanya nonetheless accessible at 205 kilos (ought to the previous middleweight champion regain his title towards Dricus du Plessis in August earlier than shifting up), the thought of Pereira pursuing historical past at heavyweight is doubtlessly the largest story in all of MMA. And for those who add in the truth that Pereira’s presence at heavyweight might result in Jones selecting to remain round longer moderately than retire, it appears as if UFC can be loopy to not entertain the thought.
Jones-Pereira is the type of battle that would fill a soccer stadium. And even when Jones is not a part of the equation, Aspinall-Pereira could possibly be simply as value it commercially, particularly if the battle was staged in a London soccer stadium.
What Pereira is making an attempt to do can also be the very definition of what makes a pound-for-pound nice precisely that. A capability to maneuver up or down in weight with out dramatically altering one’s possibilities of successful.
True greatness is generational. It solely comes round each occasionally. Here is to hoping UFC actually realizes what it has in Pereira and provides him each doable probability to realize the unimaginable.
Males’s pound-for-pound rankings
1. Islam Makhachev — Light-weight champion
Report: 26-1 | Earlier rating: No. 1
A more in-depth-than-expected victory over future Corridor of Famer Dustin Poirier at UFC 302 in June did nothing to maneuver Makhachev off of the highest spot within the rankings. Regardless of struggling a lower over his left eye from an elbow, Makhachev held off a late rally and put Poirier to sleep in Spherical 5. Makhachev’s win, which extends his streak to 14 (two shy of Anderson Silva’s UFC report), additionally strikes him right into a tie for many title defenses (3) in light-weight historical past.
2. Jon Jones — Heavyweight champion
Report: 27-1, 1 NC | Earlier rating: 2
Jones’ first title protection at heavyweight, scheduled for final November towards former champion Stipe Miocic, was canceled after Jones suffered a pectoral tear in coaching. Jones, who turns 37 this summer time, is predicted to return towards Miocic this November regardless of cries from critics that Jones, who has threatened retirement, is purposely avoiding interim titleholder Tom Aspinall.
3. Alex Pereira — Gentle heavyweight champion
Report: 11-2 | Earlier rating: 3
The 36-year-old Brazilian slugger not solely headlined the promotion’s largest occasion in historical past at UFC 300 in April, he completed former champion Jamahal Hill with the primary vital punch he landed. Two months later, he acquired known as in once more (regardless of a damaged toe) to interchange Conor McGregor at UFC 303 in July. In the principle occasion of Worldwide Battle Week, Pereira knocked out Jiri Prochazka of their rematch through violent head kick.
4. Leon Edwards — Welterweight champion
Report: 21-3, 1 NC | Earlier rating: 4
Edwards packed his UFC 286 trilogy win over Kamaru Usman with a second title protection in December towards long-time contender Colby Covington. Lastly, longtime contender Belal Muhammed will get his probability at UFC gold when he challenges Edwards at late July’s UFC 304 card in Manchester, England.
5. Ilia Topuria — Featherweight champion
Report: 15-0 | Earlier rating: 5
A altering of the guard atop the 145-pound division at UFC 298 in February may need produced the subsequent breakout star of the game. Topuria did the whole lot he stated he would towards Alexander Volkanovski, together with ending him within the first two rounds. His precision was solely trumped by his one-punch energy as Topuria patiently dismantled among the finest fighters in historical past.
6. Max Holloway — Featherweight
Report: 26-7 | Earlier rating: 6
Do not name it a comeback, Holloway has been among the many P4P elite for years. But it surely has been this specific three-fight win streak at age 32 that has been so rejuvenating. Two years in the past, following his third defeat to Alexander Volkanovski, Holloway’s future was unsure. Now, he is the reigning BMF champion after his walk-off knockout of Justin Gaethje at UFC 300 and a title contender in two divisions.
7. Sean O’Malley — Bantamweight champion
Report: 17-1, 1 NC | Earlier rating: 7
The “Suga Present” turned in fairly presumably the very best placing efficiency of his profession over 5 rounds in dominating Marlon Vera at UFC 299 to make his first title protection. O’Malley avenged the one defeat of his professional profession however has an uphill problem subsequent as he is anticipated to defend his title towards Merab Dvalishvili this fall.
8. Alexandre Pantoja — Flyweight champion
Report: 28-5 | Earlier rating: 7
After relying way more on his iron will than his P4P abilities to take the flyweight title from Brandon Moreno final summer time, the Brazilian submission skilled has stayed busy since with a pair of title defenses towards Brandon Royval (of their rematch) and Steve Erceg. Pantoja’s ardour and dogged dedication has turn out to be his calling card of late as his title reign continues to develop.
9. Dricus du Plessis — Middleweight champion
Report: 21-2 | Earlier rating: 9
Unbeaten in his seven journeys to the Octagon, the proud native of South Africa can now name himself champion after edging Sean Strickland through break up determination at UFC 297 in January. Du Plessis, who known as out former champion Israel Adesanya within the aftermath, has developed at an alarming fee to combine approach and a deep gasoline tank to his massive energy and takedown menace.
10. Merab Dvalishvili — Bantamweight
Report: 17-4 | Earlier rating: 10
By bettering his win streak to 10 fights, Dvalishvili lastly secured a title shot due to his breakthrough win over Henry Cejudo at UFC 298. The victory now provides Dvalishvili three straight over former UFC champions. Dvalishvili, 33, has a gasoline tank like no different and stays an issue for any fashion of opponent he’ll face as he continues to marketing campaign for the belt.
Dropped out: None
Simply missed: Robert Whittaker, Sean Strickland, Alexander Volkanovski, Israel Adesanya, Aljamain Sterling
Girls’s pound-for-pound rankings
1. Zhang Weili — Strawweight champion
Report: 25-3 | Earlier rating: No. 1
Zhang improved to 9-0 within the UFC towards everybody not named Rose Namajunas when she outlasted Chinese language countrywoman Yan Xiaonan at UFC 300 and did so by counting on her cardio, IQ and improved grappling after almost scoring a pair of early finishes. Her hardest check should still be to return, nevertheless, within the type of Tatiana Suarez.
2. Alexa Grasso — Flyweight champion
Report: 16-3-1 | Earlier rating: 2
The native of Mexico teamed up with former champion Valentina Shevchenko to co-author an thrilling and tactical 125-pound title rematch at Noche UFC. A break up draw was the end result because the defending champion Grasso benefitted from a controversial 10-8 remaining spherical to curtail defeat. The 2 fighters will coach reverse each other on “The Final Fighter” this spring forward of a September trilogy battle, anticipated to be in Las Vegas at The Sphere.
3. Valentina Shevchenko — Flyweight
Report: 23-4-1 | Earlier rating: No. 3
The longer term all-time nice almost regained her flyweight title from Alexa Grasso of their September rematch. A disputed draw was the end result, with Shevchenko brazenly contemplating an attraction within the aftermath. Now, at 36, Shevchenko will coach reverse Grasso on TUF earlier than a probable third assembly in September.
4. Manon Fiorot — Flyweight
Report: 12-1 | Earlier rating: 4
A shutout five-round determination over red-hot Erin Blanchfield seems to be to be the ultimate hurdle that the 34-year-old native of France should clear en path to a title shot. Fiorot’s takedown protection and talent to keep away from hazard on the bottom set the right stage for her pinpoint placing to shine. For now, Fiorot might want to anticipate the Grasso-Shevchenko rivalry to play out.
5. Tatiana Suarez — Strawweight
Report: 10-0 | Earlier rating: NR
Regardless of shedding almost 4 years of her prime resulting from power accidents, Suarez is again on the scene in an enormous approach. Her dominant submission of former champion Jessica Andrade in August is perhaps all Suarez wants to right away return to 115-pound title rivalry. Few can match her grappling prowess alone and even much less can equal the relentless aggressive streak which fuels her resolve.
Dropped out: None
Simply missed: Kayla Harrison, Erin Blanchfield, Rose Namajunas, Raquel Pennington, Julianna Pena