In a beautiful display of skill and power, Alex Pereira (10-2 MMA) successfully defended his UFC light heavyweight championship against Jamahal Hill (12-2 MMA) this past weekend. Pereira claimed victory with a knockout just 3 minutes and 14 seconds into Round 1.
At 36 years old, Alex Pereira is currently reigning as the current UFC light heavyweight champion. He also previously held the UFC middleweight title. His journey to the top has been marked by victories over formidable opponents such as Israel Adesanya, Jan Blachowicz, Sean Strickland, and Jiri Prochazka.
Far from content with his current achievements, Pereira now sets his sights on the heavyweight division. He aims to etch his name in UFC history as a three-division champion.
Former UFC icon and current commentator Daniel Cormier is a respected voice in the MMA community. He recently expressed his surprise at Pereira’s success despite perceived shortcomings in his wrestling ability.
On his ESPN show Good Guy/Bad Buy alongside Chael Sonnen, Cormier shared his thoughts. He said: “I’m sitting there at night going, ‘How’s he doing this when, with all due respect because Alex and I have a great relationship, he can’t wrestle. He does not know how to wrestle.”
Despite criticisms of his wrestling proficiency, Pereira’s unparalleled striking ability has propelled him to the summit of the UFC light heavyweight division.
Cormier elaborated: “When they grab his leg, he kind of just falls down. He can’t wrestle. When he can’t wrestle, I’m like, ‘How is this happening when he can’t wrestle?’ But he has got this singular skillset that is so good that it does not matter what he can’t do. He’s so good at what he does that he’s now the best in the world.”
Alex Pereira’s win over Jamahal Hill shows his dominance in the UFC light heavyweight division. With his eyes set on further conquests, Pereira’s journey promises to continue captivating fans and challenging perceptions of what it means to be a champion in mixed martial arts.