Alex Pereira has officially announced his move to light heavyweight after losing his UFC middleweight belt, and rising prospect Caio Borralho expects the ex-champion to succeed in the new weight class.
Alex Pereira has officially announced his decision to move up to light heavyweight after losing his UFC middleweight belt to Israel Adesanya at UFC 287. Rising 185-pound prospect Caio Borralho expects the ex-champ to shine in the new weight division. On the podcast Trocação Franca, Borralho said Pereira would likely be an underdog if he were to face Adesanya again, even though he’s currently 3-1 against the Nigerian talent in MMA and kickboxing. He added that moving up to 205 pounds would be the right call.
Borralho commented on Pereira’s recent weight cut, saying, “His weight cut is too severe. I think [the knockout punch] was the first punch that landed in that fight, and even though it was a hard one, I think his ability to absorb strikes will never be the same when he’s dehydrated. If you watch ‘Poatan’ training, he’s way heavier and hydrated, so he takes a lot of punches to land his own, but your brain can’t absorb strikes the same way if you have dehydrated 20 pounds.” He went on to suggest that Pereira could make history at 205, as the division lacks high-level wrestlers and grapplers, making it the perfect fit for him.
Borralho, who returns to the octagon on April 29 in a UFC co-main event clash with Michal Oleksiejczuk after a 3-0 start in the company, believes Pereira could earn a light heavyweight title shot after two wins in the division. He expects champion Jamahal Hill to defend next against Jiri Prochazka and Magomed Ankalaev to get the subsequent title shot. “I think Ankalaev could be the toughest fight for him, a Dagestani with high-level wrestling,” Borralho said. “He’s a southpaw, too, and we saw ‘Poatan’ struggle when Adesanya changed to southpaw stance. I think Ankalaev is one of the toughest match-ups for Pereira, even more than Jiri Prochazka and Jamahal Hill. I think ‘Poatan’ beats both fairly easily.”
The fact that Hill recently beat Pereira’s teammate and mentor Glover Teixeira for the UFC gold in Rio de Janeiro could fast track him to the top. Borralho stated, “I think two wins would earn him without anyone saying he’s taken shortcuts. But since you have the Hill narrative — and I’ll tell you this, no way Jahamal Hill handles him, man. His style, and the fact ‘Poatan’ is too big even for 205. I don’t think Jahamal stands great chances again him, and I would easily bet on ‘Poatan’ in this fight.”