Alex Pereira has been a major force in the UFC’s lightweight division. His most recent win over Jiri Prochazka at UFC 303, where he defended his 205 lbs. crown, displayed its deadly striking power. Pereira finished Prochazka with a brutal head kick and punches followed, cementing his reign as champion. But in a recent interview on the JRE MMA Show, Joe Rogan and former UFC light-heavyweight champion Quinton ‘Rampage’ Jackson explored the possible differences in Pereira’s game.
Rogan and Rampage Discuss Pereira’s Weakness
During the conversation, Rogan asked Jackson if he had seen Pereira fight Prochazka. Jackson responded enthusiastically, praising Pereira’s scoring ability. “Poatan, man, Alex Pereira, he’s f**king power nuts,” Rogan shouted. Jackson then reflects on how he would have gone against Pereira in his heyday. Rogan highlighted Jackson’s boxing skills as a major advantage. “Your boxing skills are pretty good, that’s the difference,” Rogan said. “You were always a very strong lightweight, and your boxing skills were very good.”
Rogan pointed out that Pereira has yet to face a top fighter in the UFC. He compared Prochazka’s skills to those of former ‘champ-champ’ Daniel Cormier, emphasizing the difference in boxing ability. This discussion confirmed that a heavy game plan could be key to beating Pereira.
Rampage’s Hypothetical Game Plan
Jackson talked about his fantasy approach to fighting Pereira during his prime years in the UFC. Reflecting on his 2007 victory over Chuck Liddell for the light heavyweight title, Jackson said he initially tried to sit Pereira and trade punches. “I probably wouldn’t have tried to take Alex down. I probably would have tried to (get up) until he started f**king me up, and then like oh sh*t, now it’s time to take him down,” Jackson explained. This highlights Pereira’s formidable tackling skills and the possible need for a tackling strategy to combat his offense.
Ankalayev’s Challenge to Pereira
Current UFC light heavyweight rankings suggest that Magomed Ankalaev may be the only competitor with a strong boxing background to challenge Pereira. Ankalayev, who fought Jan Blachovich for the vacant 205-pound class. belt at UFC 282 in 2022, has since knocked out Johnnie Walker at UFC 294. 2 place in the division, Ankalayev recently made a bold announcement about his intentions when he faced Pereira.
In a post on X , Ankalaev declared, “I’ll knock it out. @Mickmaynard2 @danawhite There’s nothing better than watching a program where you’ve seen someone sleep.” He also said the UFC kept Pereira away from him “for…reasons.” Ankalayev’s confidence and boxing prowess make him a unique threat to Pereira’s reign.
Expectations Build
As fans and analysts dissect Pereira’s victories, the anticipation of a possible matchup with Ankalaev grows. Pereira’s untested boxing defense and Ankalayev’s bold statements set up an entertaining bout. If a fight is scheduled, it will be a true test of Pereira’s ability inside the Octagon.
Alex Pereira’s dominance of the UFC lightweight division has been unquestioned. But discussions between Joe Rogan and Quinton ‘Rampage’ Jackson and recent comments by Magomed Ankalaev have highlighted potential weaknesses in Pereira’s game as fans eagerly await Pereira’s next title challenger is, along with the skills, strategies and possible adaptations of playing with Ankalev It promises to be an interesting experiment.
