As UFC 320 approaches, a prominent figure in mixed martial arts striking circles anticipates a dominant performance from Alex Pereira, expecting him to reclaim the light heavyweight title decisively this weekend.
Pereira is set to challenge Magomed Ankalaev once more, aiming to break Daniel Cormier’s record and avenge his previous defeat in what promises to be a highly anticipated rematch.
Many fans and fellow fighters felt that `Poatan` was not at his usual peak when he lost to the Russian at UFC 313. While one kickboxing legend suggests Pereira needed to adjust his sparring, another accomplished striker offers a different theory on the key factor that will determine the outcome.
Stephen Thompson`s Perspective: Pereira`s Rest is Key to Victory
In a recent interview, Stephen Thompson, widely regarded as one of MMA`s greatest strikers, shared his thoughts on the main event of UFC 320.
Thompson highlighted a crucial aspect of this fight that he believes will give Alex Pereira a significant advantage.
Ahead of their first fight, considerable discussion revolved around whether the former champion’s relentless activity had negatively impacted the quality of his performance.
Thompson pointed to several fighters, including Kevin Holland, Neil Magny, and Donald Cerrone, who initially achieved quick win streaks before eventually succumbing to the cumulative toll of frequent competition.
‘Wonderboy’ believes Pereira experienced a similar issue in their last encounter. However, after taking some time off, he anticipates a fully refreshed ‘Poatan’ will reclaim the championship on October 4.
“Your body is just too worn down, they’re not all there. They didn’t look the same. If you notice, Alex just didn’t look like the Alex of old and I do believe he was too consistent. But, I was there live for that fight and I predicted that the next time that they fight, Alex Pereira is coming with a vengeance. You need to give your body time to heal and I think it’s going to be all Alex this time. I think he’s going to go out there and he’s gonna crush him.”
Tom Aspinall`s Take: Ankalaev Poses a Stylistic Challenge for Pereira
When providing his breakdown of the main event, UFC heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall made a notable assertion about Alex Pereira`s previous matchups.
“I think the matchups were quite favorable to Alex Pereira up until Magomed Ankalaev,” the British champion stated during TNT Sports’ Tom Aspinall’s Fight Lab.
While Aspinall acknowledged Pereira’s ability to defend all of his opponent’s takedowns in their initial bout, he maintains that Ankalaev’s grappling prowess still presents a substantial problem for the Brazilian.
“Just with the threats of the takedown, even in the first fight we didn’t really see Ankalaev really go for the takedowns too much, but I think just the threat being there, stylistically he’s a bad matchup for Pereira,” Aspinall added.
