UFC star problem will force Dana White to favor Alex Pereira according to ex-champ Henry Cejudo

Last weekend, Magomed Ankalaev dethroned Alex Pereira to become the new UFC light heavyweight champion, handing ‘Poatan’ a decisive loss. The Russian applied relentless pressure from the opening bell, nullifying Pereira’s striking and controlling the fight. As the UFC’s biggest superstar, Pereira’s defeat is undoubtedly a major setback for Dana White and the promotion.

Following the bout, White was quick to show his disappointment as he expected more fireworks from both fighters. He also agreed to do an immediate title rematch and both fighters have also shown no hesitation. In a recent interview, UFC veteran and former double champion Henry Cejudo shared his opinion on the situation. 

Pereira is a top superstar due to his elite striking, two-division UFC championship success, and thrilling knockouts. The Brazilian fighter’s rivalry with Israel Adesanya boosted his fame, while his stoic personality adds to his mystique. His rapid rise, warrior mentality, and devastating left hook made him a must-watch fighter in the UFC. 

As Cejudo mentioned, over the years, fans have often seen UFC being biased towards fighters who sell more. UFC pushes these fighters and protects them as they contribute to major pay-per-view sales. Not too long ago, Adesanya received a title shot at UFC 305 despite coming off a lopsided loss to Sean Strickland. In the current situation, apart from Pereira, there aren’t many superstars who can fill his void. 

Alex Pereira is irreplaceable on the current UFC roster 

Since making his UFC debut back at UFC 2021, Alex Pereira has been part of seven championship bouts. Most of his fights have remained extremely successful pay-per-view events as fans in huge numbers tuned in to watch him fight. Last year, both UFC 300 and UFC 300, headlined by the Brazilian superstar, were among the biggest gates in UFC history.

However, the same cannot be said about other champions in the current slot. While the lightweight champion Islam Makhachev might have the biggest social media following, his pay-per-view numbers aren’t close to Pereira. Last year, Makhachev failed to have a spot on UFC’s most marketable fighter list, where Poatan ranked as #1.

Other champions like Belal Muhammad and Merab Dvalishvili are new, but they don’t have the same public appeal. Dvalishvili may have gained stardom after defeating the previously undefeated Umar Nurmagomedov.

The middleweight champion Dricus Du Plessis has successfully gained a fan base with his back-to-back dominant performances. However, he has a long way to go before becoming a superstar. Possibly, a victory over the dangerous Khamzat Chimaev could help him out. The heavyweight champion Jon Jones is definitely a big name, but is currently on his last stint as a professional fighter.

Jones can retire soon and the UFC doesn’t want to lose all their Trump cards. With showman Sean O’Malley and ruthless trash-talker Sean Strickland not being champions, the promotion might have to think about something else. As a result, the rematch between Pereira and Magomed Ankalaev is extremely important.

The much anticipated immediate rematch between Alex Pereira and Magomed Ankalaev 

Going into the fight at UFC 313, Alex Pereira was the fan favorite to win the bout due to his incredible momentum and knockout power. However, the Russian star didn’t let ‘Poatan’ use his skills and kept on the backfoot by consistently putting forward pressure. 

Ankalaev is ready for the rematch but wants Pereira to be more active in the fight and stop running away. During the fight, the Brazilian superstar was able to stop all the takedowns from Ankalaev, but it made him one-dimensional. With his brutal left hook, Pereira always has a chance to come back and fans are excited for it in the rematch.

Related: Alex Pereira Net Worth, Endorsements, UFC contract, Wife, and House

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