UFC 300: T-Mobile Arena; Las Vegas, Nevada
There’s been a lot of holy sh*t moments in the still mini mma career of Alex Pereira. However, is Poatan really unstoppable… or is it a lack of a true foil for him. But the now successful two-division championhinted he’s looking for bigger and better things. Like a third division. And one has to wonder what a scrap with interim heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall would look like.
While it only took the 36-year old Brazilian 3:14 to crush Jamahal Hill, there are some points that will be part of the prologue. “Sweet Dreams” did come back from a serious achillies injury sooner than expected. So being a tad tentative, and maybe even a drip of cage rust are there. Despite Hill playing the role all fight week. But the undeniable fact Pereira walked through him is impressive nonetheless. When you have just two big weapons (leg kicks, and a power left hook), your opponents know it and can’t stop it… is special.
The fact that Hill being a southpaw didn’t really bother him, which does show his growth in the sport. The duo started out with low kicks before the leather flew. Once Pereira felt what was coming back at him, he started to come forward. His signature left hook put Hill’s lights out, and was momentarily followed up with hammer fists.
Is Poatan Really Unstoppable
Aspinall is a lot faster, and despite Pereira being given his black belt post-fight; is better on the ground. But the Englishman’s chin has not been tested against that power. He also ommitted the name of Jiri Prochazka when saying he’d like to fight in three-weeks at UFC 301. Then again after his war, he will probably be out for a while on medical suspension. Even so, there’s no way Prochazka with all the guts he has can withstand Pereira right now.
Poatan has his holes too. His takedown defense has been marginal. He at times over commits and isn’t a great defensive fighter, he does get hit. Just ask Israel Adesanya. If Dana White wanted to sour “The Last Stylebender’s” plans; he could throw Pereira and Dricus Du Plessis together. And while he’s more plodding of a fighter than Aspinall, he’s even more dangerous on the ground. But the same issue arises. Their chins have not been seriously tested. Going back down to 185 might not be such a hard thing for him to do.
The real what if… the man, it would be awesome if… matchup would be Pereira versus a 2015 version of Jon Jones. But without a delorean going 88-mph that’s not happening. So it might just be a case of Pereira being the super big fish in a tiny pond.
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