Daniel Cormier, a former champion in both heavyweight and light heavyweight divisions, is skeptical about Alex Pereira’s chances in the heavyweight division. Cormier believes Pereira might not be strong enough to compete against bigger opponents after his recent defeat by Magomed Ankalaev.
Pereira, who previously held titles in both middleweight and light heavyweight, lost his light heavyweight title to Ankalaev. This loss has raised questions about Pereira’s potential move to heavyweight.
Cormier commented on the “Good Guy / Bad Guy” podcast, stating that Pereira seemed to have reached his weight limit. He observed that Ankalaev’s pressure exposed Pereira’s limitations against stronger fighters, suggesting heavyweights could overpower Pereira.
During the fight, Ankalaev effectively pressured Pereira, limiting his offensive opportunities by pinning him against the fence and mixing in grappling. Although Ankalaev didn’t secure takedowns, his strategy successfully neutralized Pereira’s striking.
Chael Sonnen, Cormier’s co-host, believes Pereira might still pursue heavyweight fights but will need to make significant adjustments. Sonnen speculated that Pereira’s next fight would likely be for a title, possibly against Tom Aspinall, despite dismissing a fight with Dricus du Plessis.
Sonnen noted Pereira’s striking struggles against Ankalaev, suggesting Pereira might need to refine his tactics, particularly his combination of slipping outside, throwing a left hand, and pushing opponents to the fence.
Cormier’s analysis suggests that Pereira might face challenges in the heavyweight division due to strength disparities observed in the Ankalaev fight.
