Alex Pereira
What’s next for Alex Pereira? Three opponents for the new king
The capturing of the light heavyweight title was the latest major achievement in the career of Alex Pereira. The two-weight kickboxing champion defeated Jiri Prochazka in the main event of UFC 295 capturing his second title in mixed martial arts. Let’s take a look at who could be the next opponents at 205 for the new king?
The Glover Texiera Revenge Tour: Jamahal Hill
Alex Pereira set the story up with Jiri Prochazka after Prochazka captured the title from his teammate, Glover Texiera. Pereira stared Prochazka down as the Czech walked around the cage a new champion. He avenged him at UFC 295 by knocking out Prochazka.
After Prochazka’s injury, Texiera took on Jamahal Hill for the vacant title and lost as well. Pereira is a man that has been chasing stories his entire UFC career with Adesanya and now Prochazka. Hill provides another story. Glover Texiera is the Daisy to Pereira’s John Wick.
Alex Pereira vs. Magomed Ankalaev? Never say never
Magomed Ankalaev cannot catch a break for the life of him. After beating Thiago Santos and Anthony Smith, he went to a split draw with Jan Blachowicz and then a no contest against Johnny Walker due to an illegal knee. His case for the title shot is the weakest of the three here today.
But Magomed Ankalaev may be the toughest challenge for Alex Pereira as his next opponent. Ankalaev is massive and has a respectable 75” reach. But the main factor is his wrestling. Ankalaev is a striker at heart, and a good one at that. But when push comes to shove and he needs to do what it takes, Ankalaev can wrestle. He wrestled Blachowicz to the draw and Blachowicz is quite hard to do that to.
For Pereira, Ankalaev wouldn’t have the story needed but he would have the challenge. This one is a long shot, however, because of his last two fights, one of which was technically a title shot that he did not lose.
The obvious choice: Israel Adesanya
Why wouldn’t Israel Adesanya go up to fight Alex Pereira? The rivalry is a deep one and Adesanya just beat Pereira in his last fight. Adesanya also went up and unsuccessfully tried for the light heavyweight title, losing to Jan Blachowicz.
After Pereira’s post-fight message to Adesanya, wanting to lift him up out of a dark place, this is the fight to make. It has all the story that you need. Adesanya finally beat Pereira. Pereira got the second belt that Adesanya couldn’t. Now Adesanya can look to repeat the win at a weight above.
But Adesanya wants to take some time off and probably should. He was the most active UFC champion and that time off will help him recover and restructure how he wants to approach the remainder of his fighting career.
