Alex Pereira had built an almost mythical reputation during his impressive run in the light heavyweight division. His streak included five victories, four of which were knockouts in title fights, and wins over four former champions. However, against Magomed Ankalaev at UFC 313 this past Saturday, Pereira experienced a setback.
Despite a closely contested fight, Pereira appeared hesitant and spent much of the 25 minutes being pressured and controlled by Ankalaev, even though Ankalaev didn’t secure any takedowns. Ankalaev’s strategy effectively highlighted some vulnerabilities in the aura of invincibility Pereira had cultivated at 205 pounds. However, according to UFC legend Matt Brown, this loss doesn’t mean Pereira has been completely figured out.
“I wouldn’t use the word ‘exposed,’ but I think it humanized him,” Brown stated on The Fighter vs. The Writer podcast. “He was benefiting from significant hype, skillfully built by the UFC. It’s easy for everyone, even experienced observers like ourselves, to get caught up in the hype surrounding him. The UFC frequently employs this tactic.”
Brown added, “They did it with Conor McGregor, Ronda Rousey, and now Alex. It’s a recurring pattern. Jon Jones is the only one who has somewhat lived up to that level of hype, and even he has had close calls and a loss to Dominick Reyes. He’s the closest example of someone meeting those high expectations.”
Pereira’s dominant run in title fights since moving to light heavyweight has overshadowed his earlier UFC career, where he faced challenges, notably a knockout loss to Israel Adesanya before changing weight classes.
Brown emphasizes that what Pereira experienced against Ankalaev is a common occurrence for even the greatest UFC champions.
“This is inherent in the sport,” Brown explained. “If you keep competing, you become humanized. I wouldn’t say ‘exposed’ because Ankalaev didn’t achieve a takedown and dominate him on the ground. If that had happened, then perhaps ‘exposed’ would be accurate. But Pereira defended takedowns well and even inflicted damage while pressed against the cage.”
“So, ‘exposed’ is the wrong term, but the Pereira hype train has definitely slowed down, if not stopped completely. He remains a top fighter, possessing all the qualities we recognized, but the UFC might have exaggerated his invincibility.”
Despite the disappointing outcome for Pereira, UFC CEO Dana White has hinted at an immediate rematch, offering a chance for redemption.
The light heavyweight division currently lacks a clear number one contender, and Pereira was a three-time defending champion before losing to Ankalaev.
Brown believes that this loss at UFC 313, while painful, could be beneficial, especially if it fuels a bigger rivalry between Pereira and Ankalaev leading up to a rematch.
“We live in an age of short attention spans,” Brown commented. “Everyone will move on quickly. The rematch will generate significant interest and sales. People will forget if this fight was considered boring by some. I personally found the tactics and strategies intriguing, and I was surprised by Ankalaev’s limited wrestling attempts and his willingness to stand and strike. I anticipated more wrestling from him.”
“If the UFC can capitalize on this rivalry, it could be huge for Alex. He could become the first combat sports athlete I can recall who develops two major rivalries to boost his star power [after his rivalry with Adesanya].”
A potential downside for Pereira is his age; he is approaching 38. A second loss to Ankalaev could significantly hinder his future prospects.
Two losses wouldn’t necessarily end Pereira’s ability to deliver exciting fights and highlight-reel knockouts, but consecutive losses to Ankalaev would definitely damage his brand.
In the UFC, drawing power is arguably more valuable than championship gold.
“It’s not necessarily make or break, but for his star power, it might be crucial for him to remain a top-tier star,” Brown concluded. “If he loses the rematch to Ankalaev… it’s not the end, but his star power would skyrocket if he were to defeat Ankalaev decisively. If he dominates Ankalaev, his star power would explode, returning him to the absolute top.”
“If he loses again, it might mean no fights against Jon Jones or Tom Aspinall. Retirement could be considered. It depends on his mindset, but to get another title shot, he’d have to work his way back up.”
