UFC star explains why Alex Pereira makes MMA "look retarded" after becoming two-division champion: "How is he able to do that?"
Alex Pereira's exploits as a two-division champion in the UFC have been praised by a fellow roster-mate in Joaquin Buckley, who had a recent sitdown with Parry Punch. During this interview, Buckley expressed astonishment over 'Poatan's' ability to dominate MMA despite having so little experience.
While Pereira is a kickboxing legend, having been Glory Kickboxing's first-ever simultaneous two-division champion, he has just 13 MMA fights as a professional. Most fighters at that stage of MMA development are barely breaking into the UFC, while Pereira has already conquered the middleweight and light heavyweight divisions.
For this and several other reasons, Buckley believes Pereira has made a mockery of the sport. He said:
"No disrespect to Alex Pereira, because I'm actually a fan of that motherf***er right now. That sh*t is crazy what he's doing. But it's like, how is he able to do that? It make it [MMA] look stupid. It make it look r*tarded. Where you got guys from different professions out of they life like, 'Oh yeah, I could do that sh*t and become a UFC champion too.' It shouldn't be like that."
Check out Joaquin Buckley's verdict on Alex Pereira (0:17):
Buckley, however, made it a point to clarify that he isn't taking away from Pereira's accomplishments. Instead, he is questioning how seriously more seasoned MMA fighters are applying themselves to the sport if a relative newcomer can enter the fold and dominate as freely as 'Poatan' has.
Alex Pereira's success has led to talks of fighting at heavyweight
Due to a combination of his dominance inside the octagon and the level of popularity he has attained, Alex Pereira has become a fighter fans are eager to see fight at heavyweight. If the UFC greenlights the scenario, 'Poatan' will have the chance to achieve the unprecedented.
He could become the first three-division champion in UFC history, a feat only ever accomplished in one major MMA promotion: ONE Championship with Anatoly Malykhin. Unfortunately, UFC CEO Dana White seems less than thrilled over the prospect of 'Poatan' facing Jon Jones.