Alex Pereira has a troublesome championship take a look at forward of him and never everyone seems to be satisfied he’s locked in.
At UFC 313 on March 8, Pereira goes for the fourth consecutive protection of his gentle heavyweight title when he takes on Magomed Ankalaev within the night’s foremost occasion. “Poatan” had an unbelievable 2024 marketing campaign which noticed him win three championship bouts in headlining spots and is at present one of many UFC’s hottest fighters.
Pereira has change into probably the most in-demand fight sports activities athletes, which suggests loads of alternative to journey the world, whether or not it’s for leisure or, most just lately, to nook Sean Strickland towards Dricus du Plessis at UFC 312 in Australia.
All of that globe-trotting has analysts Chael Sonnen and Daniel Cormier involved about the place Pereira’s head is at as he prepares to battle Ankalaev in two weeks.
“It’s regarding to me,” Sonnen stated on the Good Guy / Bad Guy podcast. “The entire thing may be very regarding. One of many causes I liked [former UFC heavyweight champion] Stipe [Miocic] as a fireman is Stipe was capable of lock down, the UFC and all people else revered that schedule a lot that he slept in the identical mattress most occasions. He was consuming the identical meals, coaching with the identical folks, having the identical coaches. It’s robust on the highway. You will get that coaching session in, however it normally entails a treadmill on the lodge foyer. Possibly you and your coach clear somewhat little bit of house, even in your room, and also you do a mitt exercise. It’s not the identical. Coaching shouldn’t be the identical.
“In the meantime, you’ve acquired Ankalaev doing no media, no excursions, and he’s locked down within the Caucasus area within the mountains. I believe that it’s related.”
In response to Cormier, Ankalaev hasn’t simply remained in his native Russia, he’s already traveled to Las Vegas in anticipation of his second title alternative. Ankalaev beforehand fought Jan Blachowicz for a vacant gentle heavyweight belt at UFC 282, however the end result was a cut up draw.
Cormier questions Pereira’s travels when his opponent is already on the town for his or her upcoming foremost occasion conflict.
“[Ankalaev is] in Vegas, I bumped into him on the PI final week and he’s truthfully so locked in able to win this battle towards Alex Pereira. … The folks, the oddsmakers that set the strains set it in Ankalaev’s favor, however the world, they’ll’t see Pereira dropping as a result of they’re so enamored with him,” Cormier stated. “However I acquired again from Australia and all final week I’m up at 3:00 within the morning and I don’t care that Pereira’s acquired weeks to prepare, he’s going to be prepared, he’s going to be ready, however even these two to a few further days whereas he’s adjusting his clock to get again on schedule in Connecticut.
“And as soon as he’s finished in Connecticut, to fly to Vegas the week of the battle. Get adjusted to 2 extra hours. He’s going to should take care of all that journey and all that distinction in time.”
Ankalaev is using a 13-fight unbeaten streak forward of UFC 313 and although he’s primarily received fights on his ft, he’s additionally proven himself to be a succesful wrestler. He had to make use of his wrestling to return again within the Blachowicz battle and salvage a draw, and that ability is also the important thing to defusing the harmful Pereira.
Sonnen believes Ankalaev when he says he’ll stand and strike with Pereira, but in addition sees the likelihood for gamesmanship on the challenger’s aspect.
“I are inclined to aspect with you that he’s going to say one factor within the media and pull a double cross within the ring, I additionally suppose he ought to try this,” Sonnen stated. “However so far as being a striker vs. a grappler, we’ve acquired to take these guys at their phrase, and Ankalaev says about himself, he says, ‘I’m a kickboxer.’ We’re pressured to simply accept that.”
Ankalaev has been making lofty claims about what he’ll do to Pereira, together with just lately tweeting Pereira “will never be the same” after their battle. Like Cormier and Sonnen, he additionally took a shot at Pereira for what he perceives as prioritizing socializing over coaching.
Cormier sees a path to victory for each fighters. Most of all, he needs to know for certain Ankalaev and Pereira will probably be at their finest.
“I imagine that when he begins to take these kicks—as a result of one of many greatest points he had with Jan Blachowicz was coping with the leg kicks—his legs acquired beat up so badly he couldn’t stand anymore, it regarded just like the battle was going to get stopped because of leg kicks,” Cormier stated. “Everyone knows Pereira has super leg kicking skill. We’re going to see that man [Ankalaev] that fought spherical 4 and 5 towards Blachowicz. Particularly as they’re watching their video footage and seeing that Blachowicz was capable of maintain Pereira down for prolonged intervals of time.
“Pereira higher get house. He must get house proper now and ensure he’s locked in as a result of he does have the toughest battle of his title reign so far, I believe.”
