Alex Pereira is facing some harsh criticism for being gun-shy against Magomed Ankalaev at the UFC 313 main event. Following this monumental loss, an immediate rematch for ‘Poatan’ is already in the discussions, where the Brazilian will look forward to rectifying his mistakes, and make a strong comeback. However, former middleweight champion and UFC legend, Robert Whittaker‘s thoughts on the rematch might concern the Pereira fans.
Robert Whittaker always had a great deal of respect for the former two-division champion. He ranked ‘Poatan’s fighting prowess among the best in the promotion and displayed admiration every time he fought. But, this time, ‘The Reaper’ found Alex Pereira’s performance less impressive, and he firmly believes that an immediate rematch will only favor no one but the current champion Magomed Ankalaev.
Whittaker, while reacting to the UFC 313 main event on the MMA Arcade Podcast, said, “I think Ankalaev gained a ton of confidence from their first pairing. I think the hype and confidence train that Pereira had, that if he touches you, you’re going to get out sort of vibe is now mute-ish, because Ankalaev didn’t die, like he didn’t go to sleep, when Alex Punched him.”
“I think it gave him so much confidence that’s almost lent itself why he’s asking for that rematch straight away. He’s like all the boogyman vibes, all the mysteries and uncertainties are now gone. He’s very beatable, he’s very human like anyone else. Honestly, I think Ankalaev does better. It’s not as close as, you know, it just was.”, ‘The Reaper’ added.
NEW YORK CITY, NY – NOVEMBER 12: Alex Pereira looks on in his Middleweight title fight against Israel Adesanya during the UFC 281 event at Madison Square Garden on November 12, 2022 in New York City, New York, United States. (Photo by Louis Grasse/PxImages) (Louis Grasse / SPP)
Alex Pereira is famous for wielding the most vicious left hooks in UFC history. He has showcased some tremendous power against the last few opponents and has intensified his ominous aura even more. But, ‘Poatan’s punches seemed to lose their impact against a resilient contender like Magomed Ankalaev. So, Robert Whittaker is absolutely on point when he notes that Pereira not hurting Ankalaev will give the champion a lot of confidence once they ultimately collide in the rematch.
Since the possibility of this rematch is almost certain, former bantamweight champion Aljamain Sterling also revealed the reason why Alex Pereira didn’t look his best against Magomed Ankalaev.
Aljamain Sterling believes Alex Pereira doesn’t give himself enough time to become the best version of himself
Alex Pereira has been the go-to guy for the UFC for saving the main events from possible catastrophes. Thanks to his relentless activity as a champion. He has already secured a place in the promotion’s history books by becoming one of the seven fighters who have defended their title three times in a calendar year.
As fans, we thoroughly appreciate Pereira’s dedication and mindset for performing this frequently, but Aljamain Sterling believes this level of activity is slowly taking a toll on his body, potentially preventing him from fighting at his best.
‘Funkmaster’ on his YouTube channel said, “You go from that, add on to the fact that he bounces back from these fights and he goes right back into the gym, almost one, maybe two weeks later. You compound that with the amount of times that he’s sparring. When does Pereira give himself, his body, and his brain, and his chin a chance to take a break and just recover? I don’t think he gives himself enough time in between fights to give the best version of himself every single time.”
Afterward, the UFC president Dana White couldn’t keep his poker face when Bruce Buffer announced Magomed Ankalaev as the new champion. So, the promotion might not delay the rematch.
But, the question remains, how will Alex Pereira tweak his weapons to deal with Magomed Ankalaev’s pressure, and how soon we are going to see him back inside the octagon? Will he return this October to Abu Dhabi? Please drop your thoughts below!
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