After just 12 professional MMA fights, experts are genuinely considering Alex Pereira as a potential candidate for the sport’s ‘GOAT’ discussion.
Pereira won middleweight gold in just his eighth fight, and within three more had taken the light-heavyweight belt. Despite many feeling that he is overly reliant on an impressive striking arsenal from his kickboxing days, there are also those who reckon he could be an all-time great.
The Brazilian won the middleweight world title from Israel Adesanya, who is also considered one of the best of his era. Since then, he has moved up in weight but is believed to more naturally fit the mould of an heavyweight given his intensive cuts to make 185lb and 205lb.
Daniel Cormier believes Alex Pereira could enter UFC ‘GOAT’ discussion with one more win
Legendary two-weight world champion Daniel Cormier has argued that Alex Pereira could be as much as just one win away from being considered amongst the sport’s best ever. The Brazilian is eyeing up a move to heavyweight, where Jon Jones currently reigns as champion.
Jones has been entertaining a potential bout with Alex Pereira, who would be following in his footsteps by moving up as light-heavyweight champion. And Cormier reckons that facing Jones in an unprecedented fight for a third belt could land him in the GOAT discussion.
“If Alex can be a guy that wins a third belt, that dude better be in the conversation as greatest of all time,” Cormier told MMAJunkie this week. “And hell, he’s only done it, he’s only got like 11 fights in his entire career [he has 12].”