Alex Pereira has held world titles in 2 divisions since his UFC debut in 2021, and former fighter turned analyst Chael Sonnen believes he may be eyeing a 3rd.
Pereira rapidly ascended the 185-pound division during his initial stint with the UFC, earning the middleweight title over longtime champion Israel Adesanya with a knockout in 2022. But, the following year, Adesanya repaid the favor, and regained his middleweight strap. From there, Pereira decided to move up in weight to compete at 205-pounds, and just 7 months following his loss to Adesanya, he was a champion again.
Pereira has been running through the light heavyweight division since 2023, achieving wins over Jan Błachowicz, Jiri Prochazka, Jamahal Hill, and most recently Khalil Rountree Jr. Now, he will attempt to defend his title again, this time versus No. 1 contender Magomed Ankalaev at UFC 313 in March. Regardless of the result, Sonnen has expressed that he feels it will be the final time we witness the reigning champion compete at 205-pounds.
“If Pereira wins, he’s going to be looking for something else to do, and if Pereira loses he’s gone,” Sonnen said on his YouTube channel. “I feel like many of you have forgotten how Pereira got to 205 pounds. He did not get to 205 by cleaning out 185. He got to 205 by losing at 185. That’s what opened the door: no belt no vacate – a move right up.
“So no matter what happens after Ankalaev, things are going to be very different for Pereira. I predict he’s moving up, and the ticking time bomb of Jon Jones and Tom Aspinall carrying this on and dragging this out, that time bomb reaches midnight as soon as Pereira is done with his piece of business with Ankalaev – win or lose.”
(h/t MMAJunkie.com)