Prior UFC middleweight champion Sean Strickland has joined the bandwagon of people giving his blessing to Alex Pereira, stating that the Brazilian knockout specialist might be the only fighter with the talent to beat Jon Jones for the first time in his career inside the Octagon.
“If anyone is to beat Jon Jones, it’s Alex.”- Sean Strickland
With Alex Pereira’s ascension up the UFC ranks and his recent win against Magomed Ankalaev at UFC 320, speculation surrounding a move to heavyweight and a showdown with UFC legend Jon Jones is heating up.
Alex Pereira Eyes Heavyweight Challenge After UFC 320 Victory
Pereira (13-3 MMA, 10-2 UFC), who is a fearsome brawler with elite-level striking and devastating power, teased a fight against Jon Jones during the UFC’s record-breaking appearance at the White House last June. Having just claimed the title against Ankalaev (21-2-1), Pereira is surely looking to challenge himself further.
While UFC president Dana White didn’t appear particularly excited to see Pereira jump up in weight, the “Poatan” fighter has made his wishes known.
Strickland Explains Pereira’s Defensive Genius and Knockout Capability
Strickland, who trained and competed alongside Pereira, feels the Brazilian possesses the appropriate toolset to deal with someone as powerful as Jon Jones (28-1 MMA).
“Jon Jones can wrestle. That guy’s a tremendous athlete… But Alex is hard to take down,” Strickland said. “If you’re going to beat him, you better get him tired. His natural stance is so defensively sound.”
Strickland’s observations are not only about praising Pereira’s aggression, but also his resistance to being taken down an essential aspect should he ever get to meet Jones, the ex-light heavyweight and reigning heavyweight champion, who boasts a wrestling background.
“Death Punch” Transforms Alex Pereira into a Once-a-Generation Fighter
Sean Strickland was not shy about praising Pereira’s infamous knockout potential:
“The man’s got the death punch, man. Some men just possess that talent like Chuck Liddell possessed it. Alex possesses it.”
Pereira’s ability has been a hallmark of his UFC career, highlight-reel stoppages that have brought him to superstardom in a rapid fashion. Strickland feels that Pereira’s innate fight-stopping skill is something that even technically sound fighters like Ankalaev simply can’t match.
Respect Between Pereira and Ankalaev
Even though he supported Pereira, Strickland also expressed respect for Magomed Ankalaev, whom he has trained with intensively as well. He referred to Ankalaev as one of the most technically skilled fighters he’s ever worked with:
“If he wrote a book on MMA, it would be a big f***ing book.”
However, Strickland feels what distinguishes Pereira is that intangible “secret sauce” the unteachable fight-ending sensibility.
Will the UFC Book Alex Pereira vs. Jon Jones?
Although the announcement is yet to be made, the hype surrounding Alex Pereira possibly fighting Jon Jones is building up. Fans, analysts, and competitors such as Strickland are already discussing how the war of styles would go.
Whether or not the UFC proceeds with the superfight, one thing is clear: Alex Pereira’s name is now squarely in the mix for the heavyweight title, and he has some powerful voices backing him.
ALSO READ: Alex Pereira vs Magomed Ankalaev 2: Poatan Gets Light-Heavyweight Title Back At UFC 320
