Alex Pereira can turn into GOAT if he wins UFC heavyweight title

Chael Sonnen makes a case for Alex Pereira turning into the best MMA fighter of all time if he can seize the UFC heavyweight title.

Pereira (10-2 MMA, 7-1 UFC), a former middleweight champion, retained his mild heavyweight title when he knocked out Jamahal Hill within the first spherical of Saturday’s UFC 300 predominant occasion.

Pereira’s rise to the highest has been nothing wanting spectacular. The previous two-division Glory kickboxing champion had a direct impression upon signing with the UFC in 2021, which resulted in titles in two weight divisions. If he can seize a 3rd belt – which has by no means been performed within the UFC – Sonnen mentioned followers want to begin contemplating Pereira as the best of all time.

“I have a look at Alex Pereira. That’s an newbie; he has an newbie’s document,” Sonnen mentioned on “The Fighter and The Child” podcast. “He’s performed it 12 occasions now. He’s solely performed it eight within the octagon however inside these eight, he’s captured two world titles, and he’s overwhelmed 5 world champions. And if I used to be to let you know that Alex Pereira – who’s by no means had a wrestling match, he’s by no means had a grappling match, he’s not a black belt – is the best to have ever performed it, you’ll roll your eyes.

“But when he grew to become champ-champ-champ, and he’s the primary particular person ever that would really do it, we stand again and go, ‘He really would possibly have the ability to.’ If he did that, we’re not out having a dialog on who the GOAT is. We are going to simply consult with him because the GOAT. …Consider how nice Georges St-Pierre is however you understand he gained 70, 185, however none of us thought he might go as much as 205. Or Daniel Cormier, when he will get the heavyweight, the sunshine heavyweight however we knew he couldn’t make the load class of 185. It’s a type of issues the place a man can solely go up to now.”

After knocking out Hill, Pereira expressed curiosity in a fast turnaround at heavyweight for UFC 301 on Might 4 in his residence nation of Brazil. Interim heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall, who was in attendance, posted a cryptic picture of him staring down Pereira.

“He actually does need the Tom combat. That wasn’t similar to, you understand, he’s excessive on adrenaline,” Sonnen mentioned. “He tried to get the Tom combat at 300. Bear in mind, he was placing out that that cryptic equation, three plus 30 equals 300. He actually would do it, and he’d be the primary particular person the place we’d stand again – and I’m not saying I believe he might beat Tom, however he’d be the primary particular person we go, ‘Yeah give him a shot, he would possibly have the ability to beat him.’”

For extra on the cardboard, go to MMA Junkie’s occasion hub for UFC 300.