Mailbag: Alex Pereira continues to amaze and Dan Ige makes the case for extra BMF belts at UFC 303

This previous Saturday, Alex Pereira knocked out Jiri Prochazka for the second time, defending his gentle heavyweight title in the primary occasion of UFC 303. It was simply the newest episode in one of many extra outstanding runs in MMA historical past, as Pereira climbs the ranks of all-time greats in a fraction of the time. Now it’s a questions whether or not “Poatan” will transfer as much as heavyweight to attempt to turn out to be the primary three-division champion in UFC historical past, or stick round at 205 for a pair extra fights. Both method, it’s Pereira’s world and we’re all simply dwelling in it. So let’s speak in regards to the fallout from UFC 303.

Alex Pereira, three-division champion?

What do you realistically suppose Pereira may do as a heavyweight? Is he already a prime 10, prime 5, HW?

The most important query popping out of Saturday is whether or not Pereira will transfer as much as heavyweight subsequent for an opportunity at immortality, partially as a result of Joe Rogan mainly demanded it, and partially as a result of the MMA neighborhood as a complete are simply 8-year-olds enjoying with motion figures. “That is enjoyable, let’s do that, regardless of there being fairly apparent shortcomings to it. Don’t care, smash them collectively proper now!”

However earlier than we get into the downsides, let’s simply have a look at Pereira as a heavyweight. How excessive may he climb? Might he actually turn out to be a three-division champion? Sure. Sure he may. However I wouldn’t guess on it.

Just about as a rule, champions in a decrease weight class could be top-10 fighters, at minimal, within the weight class above them. However heavyweight is rancid, maybe the worst of the male divisions (although the battle between it and lightweight heavyweight for backside of the barrel is a carefully contested scrap). By my depend there are seven good heavyweights, and that’s together with Jon Jones, who has fought as soon as and is more likely to retire after he beats up a retired firefighter in his subsequent bout. On the naked minimal, Pereira is prime eight, and realistically there are solely three guys I’d decide confidently to beat him: Jones, Curtis Blaydes, and Tom Aspinall. Guys like Alexander Volkov definitely may beat him, however I’d most likely decide Pereira. And by that very same token, Pereira may upset any of the three I’d decide over him.

Add in that Pereira is gigantic (he walked in round 230 on Saturday, which is like 12 kilos lighter than Fedor Emelianenko competed at) and has a uniquely harmful ability set, and it might be silly to depend him out in opposition to any heavyweight. Pereira is a particular fighter. Get pleasure from him.

Do your job

Jed, do you see Magomed Ankalaev as a underdog for the primary time in his UFC profession in opposition to Pereira

Now that we’ve celebrated Pereira for being superior, please permit me to rain on everybody’s enjoyable parade: “Poatan” shouldn’t get to go combat for the heavyweight title. He has his personal that he must defend.

Maybe I’m being a boomer right here, however one of the irritating elements of MMA fandom lately is the obsession with multi-division champions. As quickly as somebody wins a belt, we wish him to combat for an additional, regardless of that fighter not having cleaned out his weight class. Nobody is denying that Pereira is superior, however the man has 4 wins at 205 over three opponents. Sending him as much as heavyweight is the George W. Bush “Mission Achieved” banner. What if we maintain our horses only a tick? Maybe let him beat 5 completely different guys in a weight class earlier than banging our motion figures collectively.

Significantly as a result of there’s a man that Pereira must combat. Magomed Ankalaev is the second-ranked gentle heavyweight within the UFC and has wins over 4 top-10 fights, plus a draw with Jan Blachowicz that most likely ought to have been a win. The person deserves his probability to combat for the title, and Pereira, as champion, ought to give it to him. Pereira appears recreation, Ankalaev deserves it, and Pereira ought to do extra in his weight class earlier than shifting up, so what’s the issue?

Easy: We dwell in a tradition of “NOW” and individuals are afraid Ankalaev would screw issues up by successful. It’s an inexpensive concern, besides if Ankalaev does beat Pereira, then “Poatan” most likely didn’t deserve a shot at heavyweight and we had been simply forcing it as a result of we wish him to turn out to be a three-division champion. And that’s what frustrates me, as a result of it’s simply engineering outcomes as a result of we need to occur as a substitute of letting them happen organically.

In order that’s my case for why it’s ridiculous to hurry Pereira right into a heavyweight title shot. Right here’s the case for why everybody ought to need to see him combat Ankalaev: It’s a rattling good combat!

Put aside that Ankalaev deserves it, he’s additionally a terrific foil for Pereira. I like Jiri like my very own little one, but it surely’s clear that if he and Pereira fought 100 occasions, Alex wins 98 of them. However Ankalaev? Totally different story. Ankalaev can beat Pereira. He’s robust and a great grappler. Meaning there’s actual risk for the champion. However Ankalaev additionally virtually had his leg kicked off by Blachowicz, and Pereira is the very best low-kicker in MMA. Each males have avenues to win, each are robust, and their types match properly in opposition to each other. That is an distinctive combat and the one we must always get subsequent.

Alex Pereira traditionally

How would Peireira have carried out in opposition to Daniel Cormier or Jones? Let’s say post-peak for each.

Most likely not all that effectively. I like Pereira, however a part of his unbelievable run of success in the mean time is that gentle heavyweight is a travesty. Jan is outdated (and gave him hell), Jiri has minimal protection after which simply did the very same stuff within the rematch regardless of getting knocked out the primary time, and Jamahal Hill thought it might be good to kickbox with maybe the best striker in MMA historical past (and in addition won’t be good). I believe Pereira is a greater wrestler and grappler than he will get credit score for, however in fact we nonetheless haven’t needed to see it a lot as a result of folks simply kickbox with him.

Jones and Cormier wouldn’t try this.

Daniel Cormier is an Olympic wrestler. He would plant Pereira on his again each spherical till he received a choice or completed the combat. I’d put him as an enormous, large favourite over Alex. Jones is a barely completely different matter, as not less than his spindly legs present an attractive goal for Pereira to kick, however given how easy his method to Ciryl Gane was, I believe Jones would do the identical. Once more, I’d comfortably decide each males to beat Pereira. Simply atrocious model matchups for him.

Jiri Prochazka

What do you suppose is subsequent for Jiri?

What Jiri ought to do subsequent is take a while off to recuperate, as a result of that was a extremely unhealthy knockout. Then, he ought to return to the health club and, maybe, be taught the worth of protection. I’m not saying the person must be Jose Aldo, however after he misplaced back-to-back wars to Eddie Alvarez and Dustin Poirier, Justin Gaethje realized his kamikaze model has a restrict. As a substitute, Gaethje realized higher protection and find out how to deploy his anarchy in centered bursts, making him a considerably extra harmful fighter. Jiri ought to do the identical.

However is that what he’ll do?

Following the combat, Jiri launched a press release that was peak Jiri, saying he must evolve to be the very best. What meaning is anyone’s guess. This can be a man who on combat week determined to disclose that he believed Pereira’s shamanic rituals and spirits had been why he misplaced the primary combat, not the truth that his entrance leg received put via a wooden chipper and he ran headlong into counters. If in three months Jiri posts a video on Instagram speaking about how he moved to the Amazon rain forest to commune with the spirits and imbibe their power as Pereira did, would anybody be shocked?

In terms of Jiri, your guess is nearly as good as mine. But when I’m taking a shot in the dead of night, I’ll say he doesn’t change something considerably after which simply goes classic Jiri on Jamahal Hill someday within the winter.

Dan Ige, the person

Is Dan Ige going to be within the subsequent BMF combat after Saturday?

In all my years of MMA fandom, I’ve by no means seen one thing like what occurred on Saturday. After doing a bunch of rubbish earlier than the combat, Brian Ortega then pulled out of his combat with Diego Lopes on combat night time, and in some way, Dan Ige — who wasn’t even on the cardboard or within the enviornment — stepped in on two hours’ discover. We can’t overstate the brass ones on each he and Lopes for taking a combat underneath these circumstances.

There’s actually not rather more to say about it. In 99.999999999 % of circumstances, this combat would’ve been scrapped. It occurs on a regular basis. However in some way the celebrities aligned and as a substitute we received a really enjoyable combat and the most effective tales of the yr. The UFC ought to use this chance to crown Ige because the junior-BMF champion and let him decide his opponent for his first title protection. The person earned it.

Dan Ige and the inadequacies of the Corridor of Fame

What sort of award, honor or accreditation can/ought to be given from fighters like Ige that step up? Is there a Purple Coronary heart in MMA, and what’s it?

I lied, there may be extra to say on this topic.

On our UFC 303 submit present, I lamented the truth that for as unbelievable as this second was, ultimately, it received’t dwell ceaselessly. Certain, Ige received paid for his bother and he definitely endeared himself to tens of millions of followers, however for the way lengthy? MMA fandom turns over at a reasonably fast price. In 5 years, most followers received’t have been right here for it, and so at finest they’ll simply have heard the story; at worst, they’ll solely know that Ige misplaced to Diego Lopes. The combat received’t be a Battle of the 12 months or inducted into the Corridor of Fame. It is going to solely dwell on so long as the followers bear in mind it, and followers on this sport have brief recollections.

I don’t have the solutions, however I want there was a option to change that. Like, if the UFC Corridor of Fame was an actual place, and establishment you would go to, they may put up slightly plaque to Ige because the fighter who stepped in and fought on the least quantity of discover. One thing like that. Something actually. However as a substitute this second should dwell on via us, and so I intend to evangelise the Gospel of Ige for a few years to return.

Thanks for studying, and thanks for everybody who despatched in tweets (Xs?)! Do you’ve got any burning questions on issues not less than considerably associated to fight sports activities? You then’re in luck, as a result of you may ship your tweets to me, @JedKMeshew, and I’ll reply my favourite ones! Doesn’t matter in the event that they’re topical or insane, simply as long as they’re good. Thanks once more, and see y’all subsequent week.