Daniel Cormier, a former champion in two weight classes, believes Alex Pereira may not be strong enough to move up to heavyweight after his recent loss at UFC 313.
Pereira has already achieved champion status in two divisions, previously holding the middleweight title after defeating Israel Adesanya in 2022 and then claiming the light heavyweight title by defeating Jiri Prochazka in 2023. However, his reign in the light heavyweight division was cut short on Saturday when he lost to Magomed Ankalaev.
This defeat has seemingly cooled down any discussions about Pereira potentially moving to heavyweight to pursue a third title, and Cormier thinks this is likely the best course of action.
“After watching Saturday’s fight between him and Ankalaev, I think Pereira has reached his weight limit,” Cormier commented on the Good Guy / Bad Guy podcast. “I don’t believe he possesses the strength to compete with larger fighters. The amount of pressure Ankalaev applied, without significant counter-attacks from Pereira, suggests that heavyweights would simply overpower him.”
Ankalaev disrupted Pereira’s streak of title defenses with a strategic offensive approach. He consistently pressured Pereira, forcing him to retreat and incorporating grappling to disrupt the Brazilian striker. Despite not securing any takedowns during the five-round fight, Ankalaev effectively pinned Pereira against the cage for extended periods, limiting Pereira’s offensive opportunities.
Sonnen, Cormier’s co-host, is not entirely convinced that Pereira’s heavyweight aspirations are over. However, he anticipates Pereira will need to make significant adjustments if he decides to move up in weight again.
“We can all agree that Pereira’s next fight will likely be for a world title,” Sonnen stated. “While he mentioned Dricus du Plessis, which seems unlikely, Tom Aspinall is a possibility. Although initial discussions with Dana White hinted at this matchup, things seem to have settled down. Pereira will only pursue a heavyweight fight if he believes he can win.”
“I’m interested to know what Pereira’s assessment is of his performance, as his punches simply weren’t landing effectively. His calf kicks were effective, and his defense was solid, but he was outboxed, which surprised many. Ankalaev repeatedly used the same tactic – slipping to the outside, throwing a left hand, and pushing Pereira against the fence. Perhaps focusing on countering this specific sequence could lead to better outcomes for Pereira in the future.”
