Sorry for opening another thread, but the other one (where I suggested Alex should get another LHW title defense before moving up to heavyweight) completely derailed from the main topic.
First of all, I’ll quote myself so there’s no confusion about what I think of Poatan:
“Alex is the best striker the UFC has ever seen, because Semmy didn’t manage to transition successfully into MMA. But he’s 38”.
Remind that the big carrot Pereira is chasing is becoming the first ever three-division champion.
If Gane wins the belt -and doesn’t get wrecked in the process needing a 9-month layoff- then yes, Alex should move up immediately, because he’d have a very real shot at it.
If not, another title defense at LHW would never hurt his legacy.
Because if Tom keeps the belt (and as I’ve made clear, I’m not underestimating Alex) I will not try to give a percentage of his chances of beating Aspinall. But they’re very slim, IMHO.
Tom walks around at 260 lbs, maybe more, acked. Pereira’s highest known weight is around 230.
Tom’s 32 and dangerous in any fight scenario. He trains regularly with Rico and has been doing BJJ since he was a kid. Once again, IMHO, he’s the most dangerous MMA fighter on the planet right now.
I don’t see Alex moving up to heavyweight to stay there. I think he’ll only play that card once: for a single fight to chase the third belt. Why would he? Everyone in the top 5 is a solid wrestler.
Jones doesn’t have a belt anymore and just lost his brother.
Maybe JJ could channel that rage, anger, and cruelty into training and discipline. But I think this is a year for him to take shelter, stay close to his family, and not go through the isolation that a training camp demands.
Alex knocking out JJ wouldn’t really mean much, because we’d never know what mental or emotional state Jones would be in for that fight.
Would he make a ton of money? Of course. But Alex is already a superstar. He can keep making very big money after retirement. And there’s even more money behind becoming the only triple champion in UFC history.
Pereira’s got two fights left at most. Sadly.