Alex Pereira fighting for UFC title within three fights in the promotion is an unprecedented feat, claims Chael Sonnen
Chael Sonnen recently shared his thoughts on Alex Pereira fighting for the UFC middleweight championship with just three fights in the organization. His upcoming title fight against Israel Adesanya will only be his eighth bout as a professional mixed martial artist.
Initially, Sonnen was under the impression that 'Poatan' had five fights under the UFC banner before he landed the opportunity to fight for the title. The former UFC middleweight contender was flabbergasted when he found out that Pereira had achieved this unprecedented feat in three fights.
#OnThisDay one year ago, Alex Pereira made his UFC debut with THIS knockout victory! 💥
He fights for the middleweight title next Saturday at #UFC281! https://t.co/zUJlqeR2IJ
Speaking on his YouTube channel, Sonnen said:
"I missed two fights. I did not realize that it's only three times in the UFC and straight into a world championship. Now I don't have anything that I can compare it to."
He further added:
"I don't think when a guy's got three fights, that's not very many. Three fights in the UFC, this is shocking! Didn't have huge starpower coming in. Had a backstory if anybody was willing to listen. Got his skills co-signed by Glover Teixiera."
'The American Gangster' also claimed that it would be unfair to compare Alex Pereira's rise to the likes of Brock Lesnar and Ronda Rousey. It is public knowledge by now that the subplot between Pereira and Israel Adesanya from their kickboxing days helped bring this fight together.
Watch the full video below:
Israel Adesanya sends chilling message to Alex Pereira ahead of UFC 281
Israel Adesanya will face former kickboxing foe Alex Pereira in the main event of UFC 281 on November 12, 2022, at Madison Square Garden in New York City. This time around, in his sixth title defense fight, 'The Last Stylebender's approach to the fight is fueled by retribution.
The UFC middleweight champion wants to avenge his two kickboxing losses to Alex Pereira. The stakes will be higher for the pair this time around, since Adesanya remains undefeated in the middleweight division of the world's premier MMA organization.
Speaking about his objectives with this fight in a recent interview with TMZ Sports, Adesanya said:
"I want to make this a horror movie. I want to be the first person he sees when he wakes up. I want to make sure I'm right in his line of sight so he's looking at me."
Watch the full video below: