Media UFC-champion Alex Pereira sparring with undefeated Heavyweight Boxer

[Kovalev's "Man Bag"]

He wouldn't stand a chance against the Heavyweight kickboxing champ, let alone Uysk or any other legitimate Heavyweight contender.

At heavyweight? He'd have a chance against any of them he'd just come in as a huge underdog in boxing.

 

[TankAbbott4Eva]

How many male fighters have won a kickboxing, MMA and boxing world title? I'd doubt there's any, don't blame Poetan for aiming for this. No idea how he might do, I thought he'd struggle to get ranked in the UFC let alone win titles in two weight classes, who knows with this dude.

 

[MotorCityCobra]

Ngannou had the biggest power and sturdiest chin in MMA by alot.

And when Joshua touched him it was like he had dynamite in his gloves. By contrast Dubois ate a ton of those similar shots without even hitting the deck.

No name HW boxers will crush Periera. Easily. Best bet to do like Ngannou and fight Fury. Only chance to look half decent.

 

[Kovalev's "Man Bag"]

Ngannou had the biggest power and sturdiest chin in MMA by alot.

And when Joshua touched him it was like he had dynamite in his gloves. By contrast Dubois ate a ton of those similar shots without even hitting the deck.

No name HW boxers will crush Periera. Easily. Best bet to do like Ngannou and fight Fury. Only chance to look half decent.

Joshua managed to time Ngannou perfectly with bombs. He barely landed any big shots on Dubois because he just couldn't find his timing or distance. Ngannou is also up there in age. Dubois is only in his 20s.

On paper Pereira should lose to any top heavyweight boxer but it's not a given. The most shocking upsets in boxing history have come at heavyweight. Douglas, a 42-1 underdog, was only given a 2% chance against Tyson. Braddock was just a journeyman when he schooled Baer. Spinks was just a 7 fight prospect in the pros when he beat Ali. Washed or not the latter was still shocking. Then of course this brings us to Ngannou nearly upsetting Fury despite being a boxing debutant.

 

[pugilistico]

He's a LHW in the UFC.
Why don't you watch MMA sir?

I lost interest in guys doing a bunch of stuff together at once and now a days it mostly looks like sloppy boxing with the occasional leg kick or take down.
I realized I would rather watch athletes complete in specialized skills like boxing, muay thai, or judo than a sport that combines all of that together.

 

[randomg1t]

i like poatan but he'd get bulldozed by any even remotely elite boxer at his weight, nevermind HW.

 

[Dr Fong]

i like poatan but he'd get bulldozed by any even remotely elite boxer at his weight, nevermind HW.

The old 'elite boxer' no true Scotsman that always appears in these discussions, which basically just means people move the goalpost to define 'elite' wherever they like.

For example, Adesanya beat Brian Minto (yes in a shortened fight). Would Minto not count as a 'remotely' elite boxer? I'm guessing you will say no. But therefore what does 'remotely' elite mean?

I don't like Poatan much as a boxer either, particularly at this age. But let's not get hysterical thinking it's impossible he could beat a journeyman when even his perennial victim has done that.

 

[Dr Fong]

I lost interest in guys doing a bunch of stuff together at once and now a days it mostly looks like sloppy boxing with the occasional leg kick or take down.
I realized I would rather watch athletes complete in specialized skills like boxing, muay thai, or judo than a sport that combines all of that together.

But it doesn't just 'combine' all that together, it also separates the techniques of these specialities that are applicable in a far less restrictive combat situation from those that aren't.

Take Freddie Roach talking about trying to teach techniques to GSP before being reminded that you'd get kneed to Bolivia if you did that in an MMA fight, forcing Roach to adjust his coaching. But then Roach still using his specialist knowledge to get GSP to start jabbing his opponents' faces off. That's an interesting dynamic.

It also reinforces the importance of not losing sight of the value of techniques of 'other disciplines', such as the importance of wrestling as part of an overall clinch fighting game in boxing. Ngannou bullying Fury in the clinch was an example of this, as has many of those bareknuckle fights between boxers and MMAers.

I can understand not liking MMA aesthetically and I can understand hating the UFC monopoly. But having literally zero interest in the least restrictive form of combat sport while being a combat sports fan has always seemed very silly to me. Surely at least some of it is interesting.

 

[randomg1t]

The old 'elite boxer' no true Scotsman that always appears in these discussions, which basically just means people move the goalpost to define 'elite' wherever they like.

For example, Adesanya beat Brian Minto (yes in a shortened fight). Would Minto not count as a 'remotely' elite boxer? I'm guessing you will say no. But therefore what does 'remotely' elite mean?

I don't like Poatan much as a boxer either, particularly at this age. But let's not get hysterical thinking it's impossible he could beat a journeyman when even his perennial victim has done that.

no, i would not consider brian minto, who was 39-8 at the time, coming off a beatdown from parker, to be even remotely elite at that stage.

maybe 5 years earlier we could consider him that, when huck beat him up in a title defense... a fight which minto earned by getting his ass kicked by arreola 5 months earlier. i mean the guy was the definition of a journeyman.

if you think this is some kind of "gotcha!", then i really don't know how to respond.

i would consider highly ranked boxers to be elite. sure, the definition can vary on context, anyone ranked in the top 100 should definitely be considered elite, if we're talking about the general population's ability to box. but poatan is saying he wants to fight the HW champ when he isn't a HW, and the champ literally mops the floor with people in the top 10. usyk would box pereira's fucking head off.

 

[StonedLemur]

I lost interest in guys doing a bunch of stuff together at once and now a days it mostly looks like sloppy boxing with the occasional leg kick or take down.
I realized I would rather watch athletes complete in specialized skills like boxing, muay thai, or judo than a sport that combines all of that together.

Funnily enough that's exactly why I barely watch tha other things anymore lol

 

[Dr Fong]

no, i would not consider brian minto, who was 39-8 at the time, coming off a beatdown from parker, to be even remotely elite at that stage.

maybe 5 years earlier we could consider him that, when huck beat him up in a title defense... a fight which minto earned by getting his ass kicked by arreola 5 months earlier. i mean the guy was the definition of a journeyman.

if you think this is some kind of "gotcha!", then i really don't know how to respond.

i would consider highly ranked boxers to be elite. sure, the definition can vary on context, anyone ranked in the top 100 should definitely be considered elite, if we're talking about the general population's ability to box. but poatan is saying he wants to fight the HW champ when he isn't a HW, and the champ literally mops the floor with people in the top 10. usyk would box pereira's fucking head off.

Yes, I know Minto was the definition of a journeyman - that's why I literally referred to him as a journeyman.

I was just pointing out that 'remotely elite' means absolutely nothing and is a pointless comment. 'Elite boxer' is a concept thrown routinely around these discussions whenever a kickboxer or MMAer is talking about boxers, without anyone ever articulating what it is supposed to mean. I'm only picking on you because you happened to use the term.

Poatan could never satisfy the conditions of beating a remotely elite boxer, because the goalposts can easily be shifted.

I also don't know why you feel the need to tell me that Usyk would box Poatan's head off. We know that.

I'm not a big Poatan fan. He has become a duck who hides behind the UFC's favoritism, betraying the 'fight anyone' image he cultivated.

He has some obvious technical flaws. I don't think he would do particularly well in boxing and would fail to match some of the other kickboxers that have been quite successful in boxing.

I just think he might - might - be able to beat some journeyman-level guys, particularly given he does at least have some offensive tools to end fights. And surely a journeyman is 'remotely' elite.

 

[BoxerMaurits]

I'm not a big Poatan fan. He has become a duck who hides behind the UFC's favoritism, betraying the 'fight anyone' image he cultivated.

I don’t agree.
Alex Pereira has publicly stated that he wants to fight Magomed Ankalaev, who is arguably his toughest stylistic matchup.
The issue seems to be that Ankalaev only wants to fight Poatan on his home soil in Abu Dhabi, even though he knows that’s not gonna happen.
Ank doesn’t call the shots here, the champion does, and as a result it seems the UFC isn’t too eager to make that matchup either.

 

[randomg1t]

And surely a journeyman is 'remotely' elite.

surely, they aren't.

if they were, they wouldn't be journeymen.

 

[Dr Fong]

I don’t agree.
Alex Pereira has publicly stated that he wants to fight Magomed Ankalaev, who is arguably his toughest stylistic matchup.
The issue seems to be that Ankalaev only wants to fight Poatan on his home soil in Abu Dhabi, even though he knows that’s not gonna happen.
Ank doesn’t call the shots here, the champion does, and as a result it seems the UFC isn’t too eager to make that matchup either.

Whatever the truth was and wasn't about Ank, Abu Dhabi and supposedly turning down a fight - and I have never seen it 100% confirmed despite Poatan fan insistence - it is no longer relevant. Ank is very clear he wants to fight anywhere now, that is all that matters.

You can't use past diva behavior to duck a guy forever. Either he is the biggest challenge to you or he isn't. And Rountree certainly doesn't fit that bill.

Poatan might be smart to allow himself to be taken into the UFC's protective arms - but let's cut the shit about this 'anybody any time' narrative. Cro Cop had literally fought about 9 wrestlers/grapplers at this point in his career. It's not a coincidence.

I hope Poatan gets on the mic and declares he will fight Ank-Racic winner then specifically calls me a retard and tells me I was wrong. Then I will admit I was. But it's unlikely to happen.

Anyway if we talk pure U Fight Cheap on this forum, the locals will get annoyed.

 

[BoxerMaurits]

I hope Poatan gets on the mic and declares he will fight Ank-Racic winner

I hope that happens, also as a big Pereira fan. I believe he beats Ankalaev rather easily.
Maybe not a year ago, but Poatan is only getting better at defensive grappling and defending TD’s because he’s quite new to the MMA-game. The longer we wait, the more I favor Alex.

 

[burningspear]

with that defence lol opetaia ko rd 1

 

[pugilistico]

But it doesn't just 'combine' all that together, it also separates the techniques of these specialities that are applicable in a far less restrictive combat situation from those that aren't.

Take Freddie Roach talking about trying to teach techniques to GSP before being reminded that you'd get kneed to Bolivia if you did that in an MMA fight, forcing Roach to adjust his coaching. But then Roach still using his specialist knowledge to get GSP to start jabbing his opponents' faces off. That's an interesting dynamic.

It also reinforces the importance of not losing sight of the value of techniques of 'other disciplines', such as the importance of wrestling as part of an overall clinch fighting game in boxing. Ngannou bullying Fury in the clinch was an example of this, as has many of those bareknuckle fights between boxers and MMAers.

I can understand not liking MMA aesthetically and I can understand hating the UFC monopoly. But having literally zero interest in the least restrictive form of combat sport while being a combat sports fan has always seemed very silly to me. Surely at least some of it is interesting.

None of that means I have to like it. I lost interest in MMA mostly after Pride died. I don't like the format of the UFC. It's stupid guys can game the system by going down to a very vulnerable position on the ground because their opponents aren't allowed to knee their heads into oblivion.

Most importantly, personally I don't really watch sports that I'm not practicing myself.

I used to train a bit with MMA guys and used to watch MMA but realized later I just like boxing better. I have an affinity towards boxing (and to some extent judo) because I competed in it so I still watch it. I'm watching more muay thai now because I occasionally go train muay thai when I'm in Thailand.

If you're talking about less restrictive combat sports, I'd then rather have a sport where it's really anything goes. I find the self-defense championship series on youtube interesting. Or watch combat footage from Ukraine if you want truly real fighting.

 

[Mujeriego]

But it doesn't just 'combine' all that together, it also separates the techniques of these specialities that are applicable in a far less restrictive combat situation from those that aren't.

Take Freddie Roach talking about trying to teach techniques to GSP before being reminded that you'd get kneed to Bolivia if you did that in an MMA fight, forcing Roach to adjust his coaching. But then Roach still using his specialist knowledge to get GSP to start jabbing his opponents' faces off. That's an interesting dynamic.

It also reinforces the importance of not losing sight of the value of techniques of 'other disciplines', such as the importance of wrestling as part of an overall clinch fighting game in boxing. Ngannou bullying Fury in the clinch was an example of this, as has many of those bareknuckle fights between boxers and MMAers.

I can understand not liking MMA aesthetically and I can understand hating the UFC monopoly. But having literally zero interest in the least restrictive form of combat sport while being a combat sports fan has always seemed very silly to me. Surely at least some of it is interesting.

Its an inferior sport with inferior athletes.
Nobody wants to watch low level boxing with an occasional kick and tackle, in a cage.
Boring shit.

 

[BoxerMaurits]

He wouldn't stand a chance against the Heavyweight kickboxing champ, let alone Uysk or any other legitimate Heavyweight contender.

he wouldnt, but he has the best hands and timing in MMA for me, and carries good power, how well that power would travel up when he has boxing gloves on though is a different question altogether

i actually like this fighter, he doesnt try and hug people to death when he fights and has some decent technique to his stand up game

I mean, Alex Pereira has never shied away from fighting Heavyweights.
He already made this clear in GLORY Kickboxing when he called out Rico Verhoeven to become a triple champ, right after winning the LHW-belt against Artem Vakhitov. That was a badass move if you ask me:



Now in the UFC, Poatan has also been calling out Heavyweights, so it’s clear he believes he can hold his own with the big guys, no matter the combat sport discipline.

 

[BoxingMMA]

Pereira is a great fighter, great kickboxer and did great things in both mma and kickboxing at glory but judging him by his boxing skill alone he can’t really compare to a top 10 boxer, his chin is always exposed and his left hook won’t bail him out as often as it does in mma. Just as you see in this video, Alex was trying to spam it and the boxer had the timing down and it’s easier to block with a boxing glove
I like Alex too much to see him get knocked out in a boxing ring against a mid level fighter. He has more than enough challenges ahead in MMA