Alex Pereira's The Rock-esque monumental fan appeal stuns former UFC star: "I would not have predicted this"
A former UFC star has heaped praise on Alex Pereira while discussing his meteoric rise. The retired MMA fighter referenced the strong fan appeal possessed by WWE legend and Hollywood megastar Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson, suggesting that Pereira has formed a similar bond with the fans.
Pereira is an ex-Glory kickboxing middleweight and light heavyweight champion, a former UFC middleweight champion, and the reigning UFC light heavyweight champion.
'Poatan' defended his 205-pound belt with a fourth-round TKO against Khalil Rountree Jr. in the headlining match of UFC 307 at Salt Lake City's Delta Center this past weekend. It saw Pereira set, match, or break multiple records.
During a recent episode of ESPN MMA's Good Guy / Bad Guy show, former two-division UFC champion Daniel Cormier and ex-UFC star Chael Sonnen lauded Pereira for his accomplishments and popularity.
Sonnen, a former UFC middleweight and light heavyweight title challenger, seemingly likened Pereira's aura to that of MMA legends like Wanderlei Silva and Royce Gracie, as well as boxing great Mike Tyson.
'The Bad Guy' further indicated that there's always something happening with Pereira, adding that he's "embracing the entertainment side." Sonnen noted that on his way out of the arena, Pereira led a chant with his signature catchphrase, 'Chama', with fans who'd stuck around after the main event. Apparently, the champion and the fans went back and forth with the chant.
Watch Alex Pereira lead the 'Chama' chant below:
Moreover, Chael Sonnen acknowledged that The Rock is a native English speaker and that it's likely easier for him to connect with American fans, most of whom speak English. On the contrary, he implied that Alex Pereira, whose native language is Portuguese, commands fan attention in America despite not speaking English fluently.
Sonnen said:
"The Rock is about the only entertainer out there that can get the audience to engage, to get the audience to stand up and do a chant back. We've got a guy that doesn't even speak the tongue, natively, right? And he's the one leading this? I've really never seen anything like Pereira -- from a fighter to a presence to a leader to an inspiration. Man, the guy is special. And I would not have predicted this, Daniel."
Check out Sonnen's comments below (0:57):
Chael Sonnen hails Alex Pereira for representing kickboxing
In the aftermath of his latest victory, Alex Pereira seemed to suggest that he'd like a small break to heal from his injuries before fighting again.
The belief is that 'Poatan' could defend his light heavyweight belt against longtime rival Magomed Ankalaev next, provided the Dagestani beats Aleksandar Rakic later this month.
On the aforementioned Good Guy / Bad Guy episode, Chael Sonnen appeared to address Pereira's representation of kickboxing in the sport of MMA and the UFC.
Sonnen compared it to former UFC light heavyweight champion Lyoto Machida popularizing karate in MMA during his time at the top. Underscoring that Pereira's done it for kickboxing, Sonnen said:
"He is such a representative to kickboxing. And that whole community that could really use a leader should be behind him far more than they are. He has brought this back the same way that Machida brought a mystique back to karate." [6:40]