The UFC should consider booking Alex Pereira for heavyweight title next: Examining 'Poatan's' worth as a star
Alex Pereira remains the talk of the town in MMA. He is a two-division UFC champion, having captured the promotion's middleweight and light heavyweight titles at different points, with his reign over the 205-pound reign marking the most dominant stretch of his MMA career.
While all plans seem to point toward 'Poatan' defending his light heavyweight title against Magomed Ankalaev, he has also called for an undisputed heavyweight title fight with Jon Jones. If he were to emerge victorious from such a bout, he would enthrone himself as the first three-division champion in UFC history.
UFC CEO Dana White recently expressed his willingness to consider such a bout, and the promotion would be right to. In fact, they should.
Alex Pereira has arguably become the face of the UFC
The amount of goodwill and respect Alex Pereira has earned from the MMA fandom in such short order is uncanny. 'Poatan's' no-nonsense, cold-blooded demeanor and understated sense of humor, have endeared him to fans, who find him an interesting personality.
However, it is his exploits inside the octagon that have drawn the most attention. His life is, in many ways, reminiscent of a film. He is a man of humble origins, whose ability to overcome alcoholism renders him an easy figure to root for. Moreover, his career is poetic.
He became the first man to beat Israel Adesanya at middleweight. The 37-year-old has beaten everyone who has ever beaten Adesanya, achieved what 'The Last Stylebender' could not by becoming the light heavyweight champion, has prevailed over five UFC champions in short order, and avenged his mentor Glover Teixeira.
Check out Alex Pereira TKO'ing Israel Adesanya:
Most importantly, however, Pereira has become the savior of the UFC. He stepped in on short-notice to headline UFC 300, where he knocked out Jamahal Hill with supreme ease, and punctuated his victory with a viral celebration. Then, he stepped in on short-notice to headline UFC 303, with a broken toe, no less.
He put to bed all talk of an early stoppage from his first encounter with Jiří Procházka by annihilating him at UFC 303 with a thunderous knockout. There is no one else more deserving and no one else who fans want to see attempt a three-division championship sweep.
He has rescued the promotion twice, and has made it clear that he wants to fight frequently, which can't be said by most champions, who often sit on their titles, make unrealistic demands no one else seems to want, and fight more conservatively the longer they reign.
This hasn't been the case with Pereira, who, despite requesting a heavyweight title opportunity, reaffirmed his commitment to defending his light heavyweight strap, and continues to knock out everyone in his path. In doing so, he is considered by some, as the face of the promotion.
After all, there wasn't too large a drop in the gate and attendance for UFC 303, despite Conor McGregor's withdrawal.
Alex Pereira may be the only chance of the UFC doing something this historic
The UFC must recognize that, right now, it has its hands on a potential moment that may never happen again, or at least not anytime soon. There has never been a three-division champion in the promotion's history, and there has never been anyone with the right set of attributes to potentially challenge for such a distinction.
Pereira has the most effective combination of skill and physicality to accomplish the task. His striking skill is leaps beyond anyone at heavyweight, with the exception of arguably Ciryl Gane, whose own kickboxing credentials can be called into question given how neutered the rule-set was for his Muay Thai promotion.
Moreover, no one, besides Derrick Lewis, possesses the kind of freakish power that 'Poatan' seems to have. Heavyweights are powerful, that can't be doubted by anyone. However, Pereira looks to have the 'touch of death' with his left hook, which he sets up brilliantly.
While his grappling skills may be lacking, he has a great equalizer, and if he lands on Jon Jones' chin at just the right moment and angle, he could accomplish the improbable.
To allow ONE Championship to continue parading its one distinction of having the first three-division champion in a major MMA promotion would be a travesty considering the UFC could crown their own right now.
If Pereira succeeds, his star power would be nealry unrivaled, and he's a far better representative of the sport than 'Bones' and Conor McGregor, neither of whom can go too long without courting controversy.