Daniel Cormier explains why Kamaru Usman is "wrong" for not having Alex Pereira high on his pound-for-pound list
Daniel Cormier recently said that Kamaru Usman is mistaken for not placing Alex Pereira higher on his pound-for-pound rankings. 'The Nigerian Nightmare' previously remarked that the reigning UFC light heavyweight champion still has more to prove against well-rounded, wrestling-heavy opponents before he can be considered among the greatest.
Usman has consistently expressed skepticism about Pereira's striking-focused skillset and even predicted that he would lose against Jiri Prochazka at UFC 303. However, that forecast proved incorrect, as 'Poatan' triumphed over his former foe with a spectacular second-round knockout last month.
However, Cormier disagrees with the former welterweight titleholder's assessment. During a recent video on his YouTube channel, 'DC' argued that Pereira's consistent success with his dominance across two weight classes in a short period justifies the Brazilian's inclusion in the current pound-for-pound elite:
"Alright guys, Kamaru Usman is wrong. He's my brother. I love that guy, but in this instance, he's wrong. We are not determining a fighting style; we're determining if the style that you have, allows you to be successful in different weight classes."
He added:
"While I agree with you, Kamaru, on this fact that [Pereira] does not seem to have a pound-for-pound style... But the style that he has is pound for pound because it is proven through fact not anymore hyptothetical."
Check out Daniel Cormier's comments below:
Check out the full video below:
'Poatan' has achieved unprecedented success in just nine UFC fights, becoming only the ninth fighter in the promotion's history to hold championships in two divisions. What's more remarkable, he is the first to win titles in both the light heavyweight and middleweight divisions, achieving this milestone in just over two years.
Alex Pereira says moving to heavyweight isn't a primary focus right now
After Alex Pereira rapidly conquered two weight categories, the MMA community eagerly anticipated seeing the UFC light heavyweight champion jump to the heavyweight division to compete for a third title—a move that 'Poatan' himself had previously hinted at.
However, Pereira feels that now isn't the ideal time to move up to the heavyweight division, especially given the current title landscape. With Tom Aspinall holding the interim belt and undisputed champion Jon Jones set to potentially defend his title against Stipe Miocic later this year, the Brazilian prefers to wait for a more opportune moment.
During a recent video on his YouTube channel, 'Poatan' said that his current preference is defending his 205-pound title:
"To be honest, heavyweight isn't my objective, it isn't my main focus... I'm talking positions. I think I'm in another position now. It doesn't make sense for me to dispute [fight for the] interim belt."
Check out Alex Pereira's comments below (5:41):