At one point Alex Pereira was known for being the man who knocked out Israel Adesanya in Kickboxing. Now he is one of the biggest superstars in the UFC. You only have to look at the reception that the Brazilian received at UFC 295 when he made his walkout. Coupled with the fact that he was able to TKO Jiri Prochazka in two rounds only skyrocketed his popularity.
There have been some rumours of the Light-Heavyweight champ potentially fighting interim Heavyweight champ Tom Aspinall. This has led to fans wondering how the Brazilian would fare in the heavyweight division.
Naturally, Poatan has the size and the power to hurt any fighter from 185 to 205 pounds but how would his style translate at heavyweight?
Alex Pereira’s Physique
When Poatan was fighting at middleweight there were murmurs that he was too big to make the weight. Alex Pereira does not carry a lot of muscle mass but he does have a tall muscular frame which makes him bigger than most opponents. Poatan has a skinny muscular build which allows him to not tire as quickly as others.
Embed from Getty ImagesThe two champions of the division are Jon Jones and Tom Aspinall. Jones who made the jump from 205 filled out over a few years to fight at heavyweight. When Jones fought Ciryl Gane he had gained a lot of size and it wasn’t all muscle. We are yet to see how Jones does against other heavyweight contenders but the heavyweight’s reach is what makes him dangerous.
Bones also comes from a family of American footballers who are as big if not bigger than the champ. Jon Jones is a lot stronger than he looks and due to his reach, he was always going to be a threat at heavyweight.
Tom Aspinall has a solid physique with minimal fat on him. This physique allows him to move faster than most heavyweights. Similar to Pereira at light heavyweight. Poatan has the perfect frame for him to land his power shots without tiring or slowing down.
If Alex Pereira gains a serious amount of weight he may lose some of the explosiveness that makes him so great. However, if he doesn’t gain weight he may be bullied by some of the bigger guys in the division.
Pereira’s Power
There is no doubt that Pereira is one of the hardest hitters in combat sport today. The Brazilian left hook is one of the most dangerous weapons in Mixed Martial arts. That left hook is the shot that knocked out Israel Adesanya in kickboxing and the shot that stopped him in their first MMA bout. That left hook has finished the likes of Sean Strickland and Jiri Prochazka.
Embed from Getty ImagesThere is doubt about the danger that the light heavyweight champ poses. However, the question remains how will this power translate to heavyweight?
With Francis Ngannou gone the big hitters in the heavyweight division are the likes of Derrick Lewis and Sergei Pavlovich. Both of them were beaten in their last fights. Pavlovich suffered a brutal knockout loss to Tom Aspinall who has shown that he has the power to hurt his opponents.
The issue with the likes of Lewis and Pavlovich is that they have the power but not the speed to stay in and out of range. With Pereira’s kickboxing background, he can set shots up. Coming up a weight class he has the speed advantage over the majority of heavyweights.
The ultimate question for Poatan is how his power will fare against heavyweights. There are two types of knockout artists those who are heavy-handed and those who are hard hitters. Alex Pereira is a hard hitter who can knock you senseless with either hand. Knocking out fighters who weigh 185 is one thing but facing off against these heavyweight giants is a whole other kettle of fish.
Alex Pereira’s Style
Coming from a kickboxing background naturally, Pereira is an expert at beating up his opponent’s lead leg. Poatan is an expert at walking his opponent down until he finds the opening to land his bombs. This has worked at middleweight and light heavyweight. However, will this style work at heavyweight?
Embed from Getty ImagesThe fighters at heavyweight are a lot different than middleweight and light heavyweight. Other than being a lot heavier they are extremely efficient with their weight management. In any combat sport, you will see heavyweights try to hang onto their opponents to tire them out. They will try to make their opponents carry their weight.
The one factor that makes the heavyweight division different to other weight classes is that there isn’t a set weight. When Francis Ngannou fought Stipe Miocic both men weighed in at different weights. Ngannou weighed in at 263 pounds and Miocic weighed in at 234 pounds on the night. Some heavyweights come in a lot heavier than others on fight night.
This could be a hurdle for someone coming up to heavyweight, especially for someone who used to fight at middleweight. Whilst Pereira is big at middleweight and light heavyweight the leap to heavyweight is a big gap. There is a good chance that if Pereira’s power doesn’t hurt his opponents he will get physically bullied by the bigger guys in the division. This could prove even more true if he is matched up with a grappler such as Curtis Blades.
Conclusion
Alex Pereira is undoubtedly one of the best mixed martial artists on the planet but is the leap up to heavyweight too much?
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Poatan has the skill to compete with the heavyweights in the UFC but the jump in weight could present an obstacle. However, not many have the kickboxing pedigree of Pereira. This mixed with his power could make him a tricky customer at heavyweight.
One thing is for sure no matter if the Brazilian goes up to heavyweight or if he stays at light heavyweight Poatan is a superstar. There are not many who have had his success so quickly in their UFC career.
Alex Pereira is a star and he is only getting better.
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