Media Jimmy Smith breaks down the challenges facing Alex Pereira at LHW & a move up to HW

[svmr_db]

cliffs

LHW

- says Pereira is an exception to the rule of power punchers having trouble moving up in weight
- refers to Robbie Lawler as an example of a puncher moving up (to 185) and the power not translating up, not being able to crack opponents the same at a higher weight class since the bigger guys can take the shots
- says Pereira may be just be a natural LHW and wonders what the cut to MW was taking out of him
- refers to the current era at LHW where Pereira can stay at the top where there isn't a Randy Couture level wrestler to test him
- says Ankalaev is the biggest threat to Pereira and UFC wants to keep him away from Pereira, has the wrestling to make it an ugly dirty fight

HW

- refers to McGregor cracking Diaz in their first fight when he realized a bigger guy could take the shots that would knock out smaller opponents, made adjustments to play a longer game in the rematch
- thinks Pereira's power would be "average" up at HW, wonders how he would adjust for that as far as combination punches, accuracy etc
- says heavyweights would survive his best shot due to size & being fully hydrated
- thinks all 4 potential opponents (if Pereira moved up to face the champion, Aspinall / Blaydes / Jones / Miocic) would not stand and trade with Pereira
- says this era of HW is very good & would give Pereira problems not because of power, but versatility (good movement, grappling etc)
- doesn't see Pereira winning at HW title if he can't land a knockout punch

 

[Theynevergoeasy]

“This era of HW is very good.”

 

[Only Here for Attachments]

"Slow it down! Bank those rounds, and then only try to finish in the final 10-20 seconds of the fifth!"

 

[svmr_db]

“This era of HW is very good.”

Pretty sure he was just making an endorsement of the skillset of the top few guys, not the entire top 15 lol.

 

[Clark Rogers]

Pretty sure he was just making an endorsement of the skillset of the top few guys, not the entire top 15 lol.

Yeh I don't think anyone is looking below top 5 when in the context of opponents Alex would be facing. Prob top 2.

 

[Ornife]

Does he discuss the calf kicks?

 

[Theynevergoeasy]

Pretty sure he was just making an endorsement of the skillset of the top few guys, not the entire top 15 lol.

Hope so!

 

[Lord Pyjamas]

Mass works both ways.
If HWs move their little heads into punches with all the added mass it can actually be a bad thing.
Pereira is a very skilled striker so that should not be something new to him. I don´t think his power will fail him at HW.

 

[Kowboy On Sherdog]

Light Heavyweights fight at 235... I don't think someone being 20 pounds heavier is going to make that big of a difference when taking Pereira's elite striking...

 

[svmr_db]

Light Heavyweights fight at 235... I don't think someone being 20 pounds heavier is going to make that big of a difference when taking Pereira's elite striking...

Not all LHWs. Pretty sure Jiri was stepping into the cage at 215 - 220 lbs vs him for both fights. Pretty big difference to the HWs who would be fighting at 255+ lbs.

 

[Pancake Sprawl]

i don't know why people are talking about Pereira's power falling off. that's a moot point imo. the concern should be for HIS CHIN. Adesanya sent him into a coma with 2 right hands. the not cutting weight ain't going to all of a sudden make his chin iron against the likes of Aspinall, Pavlovich and the other giant HWs. the HWs also have the ability at any time during the match to crash the pocket and force a brawl, at that point it's a 50/50 shoot out with a guy who is significantly bigger.

 

[Lord Pyjamas]

At first I read it as Anthony Smith.
And went dude has some serious delusions of grandeur!

 

[Shaolin Alan]

Every time I see Jimmy Smith, I think of how Joe Rogaine stabbed Mike Goldberg in the back to replace him and then had Jimmy kicked to the curb after only a year with UFC!!

 

[PeterGriffin]

Pretty sure he was just making an endorsement of the skillset of the top few guys, not the entire top 15 lol.

The UFC has 15 HW's??

I think only 5 or 6 ever get talked about, lol.

 

[TheChance]

Jimmy's stint with the UFC was tragically short. He is the best commentator they ever had.

 

[BowserJr]

“This era of HW is very good.”

And
"versatility (good movement, grappling etc)"

Like wtf?!

I agree with LHW being easier without a Couture type guy there but everything else is wtf?

Alex is huge of course his power would translate. Lawler was a small MW lol

 

[filthybliss]

We have done this experiment with Reem, who has some wrassling over Alex. His reach advantages at the lighter weight classes get nullified at HW. That being said, I think he could still do well if he keeps that granite chin.

 

[El Fernas]

To be fair, he didnt trully moved up...more like started fighting at his "natural" weight class, did his power moved back up with him? Probably, but he is also facing guys a little slower so he can put them away, would he do the same at HW? Probably, in the end he is already fighting small HW's, guys that walk 220-230lbs, just like he does, imagine this guy at his peak around 240lbs, nothing more than that, for as long as he can keep it standing he is probably winning.

 

[IDGETKTFO]

Wasn't this clown fired from UFC and Bellator?

 

[Killer Kadoogan]

we learned nothing new