At UFC 313, Alex Pereira, for the first time in his career, seemed like a completely different fighter. Despite starting the fight on a positive note, ‘Poatan’ failed to get past the challenge of Magomed Ankalaev. The 32-year-old used all of his skill sets to dismantle the champion in a way not many expected. With this loss, Pereira not only gave away the belt but might have also lost the chance to move on to the heavyweight division. Well, this is what Daniel Cormier feels. In a normal situation, after beating Ankalaev, Pereira was planning for a super fight against Jon Jones.
While there has been no confirmation about Pereira’s next move, ideally, he would be getting a rematch against Ankalaev next. But on the other side, if he makes a move to the heavyweight division in hopes of becoming a three-division champion, what could happen? After analyzing his UFC 313 performance, Cormier feels Pereira doesn’t have the power to trouble the heavyweights. The former dual champion and Chael Sonnen took to their YouTube channel to discuss the entire situation.
Comparing the physical statistics of Ankalaev and Pereira, there was hardly any difference between the two. Cormier feels this would exactly be the case when he makes a move to the heavyweight division. However, with the quality of punches he threw against the Russian, ‘DC’ feels there won’t be any trouble. He said, “But when we watch Saturday, and watched him in Ankalaev fight. It gives me the idea that I think he’s kind of maxed out the weight he can go up. Sure, I don’t think he’s strong enough to go with anyone bigger. Because the amount of pressure Ankalaev was able to generate without the danger coming back at him. Like we expected. Those heavyweights would kind of just walk right through what he was throwing at him.”
Despite the loss, Alex Pereira is one of the most celebrated champions in the UFC. In 2024, he defended his title three times in the division and proved why he is the best in the world. However, things took a completely new turn for him in 2025, and he is now the former champion of the division. Luckily for him and his fans, Dana White has given the green signal to a potential rematch between the two. However, this might just be his last chance to become a champion, as revealed by a former UFC champion.
Michael Bisping wants Alex Pereira to give his best in their rematch
Alex Pereira’s loss to Magomed Ankalaev was undoubtedly a tough pill to swallow for ‘Poatan’ fans. However, in many ways, it unfolded exactly as expected in the event of a Pereira defeat. Ankalaev executed a smart, calculated game plan—constantly applying pressure, landing significant shots that had Pereira in trouble, and seamlessly mixing in his wrestling to sap the former champion’s energy. By shutting down Pereira’s ability to settle into his signature rhythm, Ankalaev controlled the fight across five grueling rounds and secured a well-earned victory.
But given Pereira’s dominance as a champion and his willingness to step up for the UFC whenever called upon, doesn’t a rematch feel like the right move? After all, if anyone has earned the right to run it back, it’s ‘Poatan.’ However, the stakes for a potential rematch could be monumental—possibly even career-defining for the former champion. This is what Michael Bisping feels. He took to his YouTube channel and said, “Champs don’t fight usually as regularly as what Pereira did, okay. Now that fight [the Ankalaev rematch] would be about seven months away, that’s quite long. Maybe that’s a good thing for Pereira, gives him time to actually go away and have a break. Have a rest, get hungry again, get mean, and miss not being a champion. Because the reality is at 37 years old, he’s got to make this one count.”
But when an athlete reaches the pinnacle of success, finding the same hunger and drive to keep pushing forward can sometimes become the biggest challenge. Will Pereira be able to get back his motivation again? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
The post “I Don’t Think He’s Strong Enough” – Alex Pereira’s UFC Heavyweight Plans Ruined in Daniel Cormier’s Blunt Claim appeared first on EssentiallySports.
