Kamaru Usman questions Alex Pereira’s UFC pound-for-pound rating

Kamaru Usman stands by his opinion that Alex Pereira shouldn’t be excessive up within the UFC pound-for-pound rankings.

Pereira (11-2 MMA, 8-1 UFC) jumped as much as the No. 2 spot on the UFC’s pound-for-pound rankings after knocking out Jiri Prochazka to retain his mild heavyweight title at UFC 303. He overtook UFC heavyweight champion Jon Jones, and solely light-weight champion Islam Makhachev is in entrance of him.

Former welterweight champion Usman praised Pereira for his energy however doesn’t suppose his fashion is well-rounded sufficient to translate from division to division – regardless that Pereira now has received UFC titles at each middleweight and light-weight heavyweight. “Poatan” has even teased a attainable transfer to heavyweight.

“Once we speak pound-for-pound, let’s not neglect, pound-for-pound is a hypothetical,” Usman mentioned on his “Pound 4 Pound” podcast with Henry Cejudo. “Meaning, do you possess the best degree of putting, of wrestling, of kickboxing, of grappling, of jiu-jitsu? That’s what which means. Which suggests for those who had been put in flyweight or for those who had been put in welterweight or for those who had been put in heavyweight, your fashion would switch all all through these divisions, and it is possible for you to to be victorious and nonetheless be No. 1.

“That’s all which means. Sure, you possibly can stand and knock everyone out – guys who aren’t transferring, guys who aren’t taking pictures on you, guys who aren’t testing your grappling. However that doesn’t imply you’re No. 1 pound-for-pound. So, don’t be upset about that. Don’t be butt harm about it. If something, present me you’re pound-for-pound. Go on the market, take the subsequent man down, get on prime, full mount, change up, armbar on prime. That lets me know, ‘Oh, sh*t. OK.’”

Pereira now has defended his mild heavyweight title twice, scoring knockouts of Jamahall Hill and Prochazka for a second time. Prime contender Magomed Ankalaev is chomping on the bit to get his title alternative, however Pereira’s subsequent opponent is but to be introduced.