UFC 313: T-Cell Area; Las Vegas, Nevada
He didn’t get merked. However the run at gentle heavyweight for Alex Pereira may be over. If he tries to proper the mistaken in dropping that 205 strap to Magomed Ankalaev (48-47 2x, 49-46) it may be risking legacy. The Brazilian has joined the record of many. Champions over the age of 35, dropping their titles. However the Connecticut resident has a definite query. Does the transfer occur earlier than later to heavyweight. This weight reduce didn’t go as straightforward as others, and that may be the ultimate issue.
Pereira has been an extremely lively fighter. However the transfer from 205 to heavyweight is one that may take time. Particularly if he desires to do it accurately. So we would not see him until August /September. And does he get to stroll right into a title struggle in opposition to Tom Aspinall. Or is there one other that welcomes him to the land of giants. The factor is he spent a while with Jon Jones just lately, and now realizes that these are are simply on a special degree.
He’d have a little bit of a pace benefit. However guys like Aspinall, and Gane, are slick. Jailton Almeida, and Derrick Lewis have subsequent degree energy. Alexander Volkov has not solely wrestling however ridiculous dimension. So it’s a little bit of a choose your poison.
Does The Transfer Occur, Or Does Pereira Keep Put
The Dagestani’s stress made Pereira appear tentative. Though a feather in his cap is that his takedown protection was on level, shutting out the Russian 0-12 makes an attempt. The struggle had some moments, but it surely was removed from overly thrilling.
A loss in a rematch places a darkish cloud over him. And will Pereira recapture the belt in a rematch, what subsequent? A trilogy? Two extra fights like this might not be very aesthetically pleasing. The transfer to heavyweight does a few issues.
It provides Ankalaev his clear title reign, with a lot of stable matchups. And it permits for Pereira to affix an much more choose group of fighters in UFC historical past. These with wins in three-divisions, and turning into the primary three-division champion. However with how his physique language regarded post-fight, he desires one other shot at Ankalaev.
Look, the chopping away at his legs labored. Combating the wrestling labored. However Pereira was in there with somebody who doesn’t thoughts phonebooth combating. He’s open to be hit with overhand rights, and that was one thing this time not in Pereira’s sport plan.
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