Alex Pereira has options – 3 potential opponents after UFC 300
What else is there to say besides, “Wow!” UFC 300 delivered from Deiveson Figueiredo to Alex Pereira. With Pereira finishing former champion Jamahal Hill, all eyes are looking forward to the bright future of the light heavyweight champion. Who does Pereira fight next? Let’s look at three options!
The logical option: Magomed Ankalaev
If we are being strict about the hierarchy in light heavyweight, Magomed Ankalaev is easily the next option for Alex Pereira. Hill will fall from his status as the number one contender after his UFC 300 loss. This moves up Jiri Prochazka to number 1, someone Pereira knocked out, and then Magomed Ankalaev.
Ankalaev hasn’t lost a fight since 2018 and has arguably been the best fighter at 205. In the 12 fights since his last loss, Ankalaev has beat the division’s best including former contenders Thiago Santos and Anthony Smith.
He was given a shot at the title when Prochazka was vacated and that fight ended in a draw. It’s time that Ankalaev gets that next shot at gold. It’s possible to do this at UFC 301 in Brazil, though it would take convincing on Ankalaev’s part.
The Rivalry: Alex Pereira vs. Israel Adesanya 5
In my preview show for UFC 300, I talked in the beginning about how I thought the UFC’s end game was to have Alex Pereira vs. Israel Adesanya 5 at 205 by the end of the year. I still believe that is the plan. Pereira did his part and now Adesanya must do his and beat Dricus Du Plessis.
The Adesanya fight is a selfish desire of mine, surely. The two are 3-1 across kickboxing and MMA but only 1-1 in MMA, proper. Adesanya beat Alex Pereira in the two’s last fight before Poatan’s move to 205.
The issue lies in the UFC’s intentions for Pereira. If they want to jam him on UFC 301, Adesanya will be off the table. He’s all but locked in to face Dricus Du Plessis in August at UFC 305.
If we can be patient, what a better way to end the rivalry than a champion versus champion matchup?
The heavyweight route: Ciryl Gane
I know minds jump to Tom Aspinall, but if we are hell bent on letting Alex Pereira fight at heavyweight, let’s do Alex Pereira vs. Ciryl Gane.
— Blaine Henry (@BlaineHenryTFL) April 14, 2024
I really don’t like the idea of Alex Pereira moving up to heavyweight. But he fought at 230 pounds last night. That what former heavyweight champion Stipe Miocic fought at. So it’s doable. Unfortunately, I don’t have any desire to see Tom Aspinall and Jon Jones wrestle the former middleweight champion into oblivion. But if we’re looking for a fun option, France has the solution.
Ciryl Gane is my pick at heavyweight. We don’t run the risk of Pereira being wrestled into oblivion and it’s a fun striking match. Ciryl Gane needs a fight that won’t be a wrestling test and if he’s in shape, UFC 301 could be an option.
These two are big fellas and have a great striking pedigree. If we are serious about a heavyweight Alex Pereira run against Jon Jones, I say let’s see what heavyweight Pereira is capable of instead of throwing him to the wolves that is Tom Aspinall and Jones.
