Here's how Alex Pereira could become two-division champion at UFC 283, according to Chael Sonnen
Chael Sonnen is offering an interesting suggestion that could see Alex Pereira become a two-division UFC champion.
Sonnen discussed the upcoming vacant light heavyweight championship bout between Glover Teixeira and Jamahal Hill on his YouTube channel. He brought up a scenario that would see Pereira serve as an alternate in the event that Teixeira is forced to withdraw from the event, saying:
"It would be an experiment and I think that there is a massive story to tell there that Anthony Smith is going to be the backup for Jamahal Hill if something happens to team Jamahal...If you do that in conjunction with Pereira being the backup for team Glover. And I don't think it takes the spotlight off two guys. I think you create a real conversation now and you got parity between four guys." {5:42 - 6:18}
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Sonnen believes that the UFC could capitalize on marketing the backup fighters as being a factor, especially considering they're training so closely with the competitors. He mentioned that 'Lionheart', now serving as Hill's training partner, would make for a scenario for 'Poatan' to possibly get in the mix as well, saying:
"Anthony (Smith) is the backup should Jamahal (Hill) pull out but Alex Pereira is the backup should Glover (Teixeira) pull out. Now that's a fantastic way to run this angle. That won't get done. The UFC and the marketing team doesn't agree with me and I don't know that I'm right because we've never tried it, it would be an experiment." (4:49 - 5:16)
It would be an interesting turn of events should 'Poatan' serve as an alternate for his coach, especially considering that he just won the middleweight championship last month.
Check out the full video:
Will Alex Pereira move up to light heavyweight if Glover Teixeira loses to Jamahal Hill?
Alex Pereira's high-intensity sparring against GLORY Light Heavyweight Clyde Brunswijk at Days Gym in Almere, Netherlands. https://t.co/4vlVqPssPR
It's important to note that despite competing at middleweight, Alex Pereira cuts a significant amount of weight to make 185lbs.
'Poatan' is currently the middleweight champion and a rematch with Israel Adesanya seems to be the next logical fight. But he could decide to commit to a move to 205lbs once his rivalry with Adesanya is over. He is 35 years old, so the weight cut to middleweight could eventually take a physical toll on him as he gets older.
With that in mind, 'Poatan' moving to 205lbs would make for quite the storyline for the promotion to capitalize on. His power and elite striking could be a massive factor at light heavyweight and could lead to him becoming a two-division UFC champion in the future.