A prominent figure in MMA striking circles anticipates a spectacular title reclamation by Alex Pereira this Saturday night. Pereira is set to challenge Magomed Ankalaev at UFC 320, seeking to surpass Daniel Cormier’s record and avenge his previous loss to the Russian. Many fans and fellow fighters observed that `Poatan` didn`t seem to be at his best during his defeat to Ankalaev at UFC 313 in March. While some experts suggest Pereira needs to adjust his sparring, another accomplished striker offers a different perspective on what will be the decisive factor.
Stephen Thompson`s Prediction: Time Off Will Unleash a Devastating Alex Pereira
In a recent discussion, Stephen Thompson, a revered striker himself, shared his insights on the UFC 320 main event, particularly regarding Alex Pereira`s chances. Thompson, who is also looking for his own rematch, pointed to a critical element he believes will give Pereira a significant edge. Following his first bout with Magomed Ankalaev, there was considerable debate about whether Pereira`s consistent fight schedule had negatively impacted his performance. Thompson drew parallels to several fighters, including Kevin Holland, Neil Magny, and Donald Cerrone, who experienced initial win streaks before their intense activity eventually took its toll. `Wonderboy` asserts that Pereira suffered from this same issue in their last encounter. However, after a period of rest, Thompson predicts a fully rejuvenated `Poatan` will reclaim the light heavyweight championship on October 4.
“Your body is just too worn down, they’re not all there. They didn’t look the same. If you notice, Alex just didn’t look like the Alex of old and I do believe he was too consistent. But, I was there live for that fight and I predicted that the next time that they fight, Alex Pereira is coming with a vengeance. You need to give your body time to heal and I think it’s going to be all Alex this time. I think he’s going to go out there and he’s gonna crush him.”
Tom Aspinall`s View: Magomed Ankalaev Poses a Stylistic Challenge for Pereira
Offering his analysis of the main event, UFC heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall made a notable statement about Alex Pereira.
“I think the matchups were quite favorable to Alex Pereira up until Magomed Ankalaev,” the British fighter commented during TNT Sports’ Tom Aspinall’s Fight Lab.
Aspinall acknowledged Pereira`s success in defending takedowns during their initial fight but maintains that Ankalaev`s grappling prowess still presents a formidable problem for the Brazilian.
“Just with the threats of the takedown, even in the first fight we didn’t really see Ankalaev really go for the takedowns too much, but I think just the threat being there, stylistically he’s a bad matchup for Pereira,” Aspinall elaborated.
