Alex Pereira’s Superstardom Cited As Reason for Potential Downfall According To Sean Strickland

UFC star Sean Strickland talks about the real reason Alex Pereira lost to Magomed Ankalaev at UFC 313.

Alex Pereira’s Superstardom Cited As Reason for Potential Downfall According To Sean Strickland

Sean Strickland shares his theory on Alex Pereira's loss (via Imago/X)

Alex Pereira’s light heavyweight title reign is one of the most dominant and electrifying runs in modern MMA history. He captured the belt and defended it three times in just seven months, all wins by devastating knockouts. At UFC 313, the Brazilian entered as a fan favorite, but Magomed Ankalaev stepped in determined to rewrite the script.

The Russian came in with a game plan and used his wrestling and forward pressure to keep Pereira on the back foot. On top of that, he landed more significant strikes, ultimately winning the bout via. unanimous decision. However, former UFC champion and Strickland’s sparring partner, Sean Strickland, believes there was another big reason for Pereira’s loss.

Alex is a superstar. He can’t leave his house without someone saying, oh sh*t, there’s Alex, can I get a picture? That kind of takes a toll on the mind. Where you know Ankalaev is in a fu**ing cave somewhere. I don’t know where the fu*k that guy’s from, but like he probably lives in a fuc*ing cave somewhere. He doesn’t have to deal with the same pressures of being famous as you do in the US. So I think Alex, if he just takes a step back, clears his brain, comes in fresh, not travelling over the fuc*ing world, I think he has a legitimate shot of beating him.

Since winning his first title in UFC, Pereira’s popularity skyrocketed due to his knockout power and consistent performances. His mass appeal spans hardcore fans and casual viewers alike, drawing global attention with his stoic demeanor and thrilling finishes. Pereira’s recent pay-per-view headliners have generated massive numbers, making him UFC’s biggest asset.

Ahead of UFC 313, Pereira embarked on a global tour, meeting fans and media while soaking in his growing superstardom. Experts like Daniel Cormier expressed concern, warning that his focus might be shifting from training to promotional obligations. Cormier’s concerns proved valid, as Pereira seemingly underestimated Ankalaev and eventually lost the title.

Since the bout, Pereira has aggressively pushed for an immediate rematch, and UFC CEO Dana White has approved the showdown already. Ankalaev has also confirmed his readiness, proudly announcing that he has already signed the contract to defend again. The Russian fighter declared that he’s prepared to fight at the next available event, with or without Pereira’s availability.

Alex Pereira’s former kickboxing rival talks about his weakness

Before joining the UFC, Alex Pereira built an impressive kickboxing legacy, becoming a two-division champion in Glory with highlight-reel knockouts. He famously holds two victories over Israel Adesanya in kickboxing, including a devastating knockout that raised his global combat sports profile. Motivated by Adesanya’s UFC rise, Pereira transitioned to MMA, determined to replicate and in the process did what he intended.

Alex Pereira vs. Magomed Ankalaev at UFC 313
Alex Pereira vs. Magomed Ankalaev at UFC 313 (via X)

In the first bout, Pereira knocked out Adesanya but in the rematch got flatlined by the ‘Last Stylebender’. He later moved up and continued his dominance until he met Magomed Ankalaev, who exposed his weakness. In a recent interview with Inside Fighting, Pereira’s former kickboxing rival, Dustin Jacoby shared his theory to beat ‘Poatan’:

Where I made a downfall is he just put full attack mode on me and and I tried going attack mode back and keeping up with him, instead of letting the fight slow down a little bit, recover, let him kind of gas himself out, do a little bit of wearing down on him.

For now Pereira hasn’t signed the title rematch but it won’t be surprising to see it happening in the next few months. Following their recent controversy, many fans have questioned the relationship between the fighter and UFC top brass.